February 09, 2025
Spot the difference! In each of these photos you can see the Lake Onlsow painting taking shape. Notice how each stand of tussock is made up of many multi-coloured layers? I try to get the tussock strands to entwine naturally, it makes for slow work but the final effect is worth it. This is the second painting from my Lake Onslow study, from a chance moment when a not so magical evening became just that for a few moments as the sun departed.
Arriving late in the afternoon, after many endless km's of meandering gravel road and being stuck behind a large flock of sheep, I was greeted by Lake Onslow a man-made lake 700m above sea level near Roxburgh, Central Otago.
To my dismay the village of fisherman huts were overhung by grey cloud and looked rather lifeless. However it was a completely still evening, the silence only disrupted by distant hungry cows mooing, and as I explored the huts I came across a trout fisherman making dinner. We had a chat while night fell, he then went off fishing and I continued to explore. Just as the last rays of sun were leaving, the grey clouds moved around and lifted, the light streamed in bathing the little village in warm evening light...
March 30, 2025
Camp Stream Hut is a historic hut found nestled in a shallow valley near Camp Stream at just over 1200m. Originally used as a musterers hut, the current structure is the second on this site, replacing an earlier hut built in 1898 that was destroyed by fire. The corrugated iron from the original hut was salvaged and repurposed in the construction of the present hut. Maintained by the Mackenzie Alpine Trust...
March 23, 2025
January 05, 2025
Hidden up the Mistake River at the nor-western end of Lake Tekapo you will find Middle Gorge Hut. It is a cosy, well maintained little 6 bunk hut surrounded by steep peaks and tussock fields. The Hazard Range and Hall Range tower on each side of the valley with Mt Radove 2430m at the head of the valley. Due to the northern aspect the sun streams in from the head of the valley and bakes the valley floor...