new in my sketchbooks

24 September 2020
Shark's Tooth Peak
Shark's Tooth Peak

It's been winter (of course!), so not as much outside sketching as I would like. The adventures have still been happening, but the sketchbook has often just stayed in my pack. Seems I'm not as tough as I thought I was ;-) But, hey, that picture above of Shark's Tooth Peak was done in minus temps and was the first time I saw a wash freeze. Haha!

Here are a few sketches in my sketchbooks from the last few weeks. Some of these done on location, some sketched later, working from photos I took while out and about.

West Wanaka - no, it's not autumn. It seems the willows turn orange before getting spring leaves.
West Wanaka - no, it's not autumn. It seems the willows turn orange before getting spring leaves.

Meg Hut, Pisa Range
Meg Hut, Pisa Range
[](/blog/images/blog_0031.jpg)
Miner's Hut, Pisa Range.
Miner's Hut, Pisa Range.

[

](/blog/images/blog_0034.jpg)

Close to home. My favourite bend in the Hawea River.
Close to home. My favourite bend in the Hawea River.

Overnight hike to Smoothwater Bay.
Overnight hike to Smoothwater Bay.
[](/blog/images/blog_0036.jpg)
Zulu swimming the Smoothwater River.
Zulu swimming the Smoothwater River.
landscapeswatercolour2020 paintingsin my sketchbookout and aboutwatercolour landscapesurban sketching new zealand
Paint a free watercolour online lesson

A free lesson for you!

One of my all-time favourite paintings of a stormy day in a ruined Roman town in Spain.

You can do this! Let me show you how. Join my community to receive this free video tutorial.

Join here
how versatile is potters pink?

how versatile is potters pink?

1 July 2026

Potters pink is very pretty, dusty pink with an old world feel. It granulates beautifully and is very lightfast. While pretty on its own, it’s a super versatile colour to use in all sorts of ways. J...

Read more →

a vase with white flowers

a vase with white flowers

24 June 2026

Here's a deceptively simple painting delivers maximum impact for minimal effort — a wet-in-wet background and a limited palette do most of the work, while the result glows with light and looks far m...

Read more →

summer flowers & an old fence post

summer flowers & an old fence post

16 June 2026

There's something irresistibly paintable about a weathered fence post half-swallowed by summer wildflowers. It's the contrast that does it — rough, sun-bleached wood against the soft, fleeting delic...

Read more →