Riwaka Boatsheds

The southwest corner of Tasman Bay is remarkably tidal. This is the Riwaka River, where it goes out to sea at low tide. At high tide, in a few hours time, this estuary will be full from bank to bank. Quite reasonable vessels can navigate these waters at least for a few hours every day.

There is a port and wharf around the corner that I will paint some day soon, but these wonderful old Boatsheds, standing in the sun, will do for now.

They are not used anymore. There owners are dispersed all over New Zealand. I imagine that there is always the intention to return, or to pass them on to family in their turn, but in the meantime they stand there dreaming in this early autumn afternoon.

These tidal flats that at first glance seem so empty, once studied, are a painter's dream. There is just as much painterly incident in them as there is in an estuary filled with the sea. Warm against cool. Edge against edge, lost and found. A delight.




15102. "Riwaka Boatsheds". Oil on panel. 9x12 in. $200

Any plein air painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz

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