​Our local library has an art competition to collect some art for some printed bookmarks for every year. Usually, it's just for kids but this year they decided to try an adult (tall kid) category. The four themes to choose from were: Whānau (family), Steampunk, Sea Creatures or Play. During the awards it was mentioned that the Steampunk category was quite popular but it just didn't produce any winning entries.

​I chose the Sea Creatures theme and mine was selected. Normally I draw from life but for the two snappers I used some photos, and for the octopus I watched a National Geographic YouTube video a number of times as I sketched. 

​It was great to see the other winners. These kids are way better artists than I was at that age.

​This awesome van was for sale on the side of the road. I like how it's just a normal small van with a bunch of outdoorsy optional extras. It's over a quarter century old and has over a quarter million kilometres on it. It's also way overpriced, but I'm sure someone will buy it.

​I had the opportunity to sketch off the deck of someone who overlooks the East End beach and reserve. There's still a horse paddock on the other side of the tracks so it seems like we're in the country. If you were to look to the sides, you'd see that it was pretty suburban, but on a day like that, I just kept looking at the water.

​Kids love pushing it to get the fountain started. When I was there, a couple of men in suits were walking around doing work. I could tell because they were pointing at many things. One of them pointed to the button and the other one pressed it. Big smiles all around. Businessmen love the fountain too.

I had some extra time while shopping so I sketched the mall food court. I noticed three things:
1.  It's amazing how little time people take when eating in a food court. People aren't there to chat; it's all business so that makes for some fast sketching. I definitely feel sketching people in a proper cafe is easier.
2.  About 80% of females partaking in a food court lunch had longer hair tied back in a ponytail.
3.  The fast food franchise kiosks with huge advertising budgets get a return on their investment. There was a constant queue for burgers while some of the other places were super quiet. The Chinese food place had one guy just standing there behind a buffet, with no takers. I kept looking over at him and it never changed. (When this one was done though, I went over to Mr. Lonely and bought a plate of sweet and sour pork.)

In Puke Ariki museum again; this time drawing a Kākāpō. It's a New Zealand flightless parrot and as of today, there's only 142 left. Click here to find out more or to donate to their recovery!

​The very rare sunny winter day off. What a beauty! I have to give credit to Maurice for the idea to come down to Te Henui stream to draw and paint. I could have happily sat there all day and sketched.