Charming drawings of a much-loved coast by a great New Zealand artist
This beautiful and charming hardback by one of this country’s foremost painters combines delicate coloured-pencil drawings, with text, and takes the reader on an enchanting journey of the much-loved Waitakere Coast, west of Auckland.
The drawings are richly evocative of the coast so many New Zealanders love, and they are magnificent works in themselves. Binney’s text takes the reader on an imaginary journey from Huia to Te Henga (Bethells), drawing on his extensive contact with and love for this coast and with the Waitakere Ranges in general.
In early adulthood Binney tramped and camped throughout the area, he was a founding member of the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, and he is nationally recognized as an ardent conservationist, often using his art to underpin his conservation-activist work.
The drawings for this book were completed over an 18-month period and represent a rather remarkable artistic feat – Binney delivered them all within a single drawing block, without tearing a single page out to start again, showing his incredible eye for accuracy and detail.
Drawing the Waitakere Coast is keepsake-small and perfectly formed, and lovers of both Auckland’s iconic west coast and Don Binney’s art will find it enchanting.
Don Binney taught at Elam School of Fine Arts from 1974 to 1998, becoming Head of Painting in 1994. He has exhibited nationally and internationally and is represented in all major New Zealand collections. He was awarded an OBE for services to the arts in 1995. He is New Zealand Patron of the Little Barrier Island Supporters’ Trust, Artist Patron of the Friends of Auckland Art Gallery, and a Waitakere City Art Laureate.
The publication of Drawing the Waitakere Coast will coincide with a major exhibition of the original drawings at Lopdell House in Titirangi, which runs from 15 April – 6 June.
Drawing the Waitakere Coast
Author: Don Binney
Publication - 01 April 2010
Hardback - Godwit - RRP: $45.00
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