Leaves From My Sketchbooks. 73. William Smith O'Brien's Cottage, Port Arthur, Tasmania

William Smith O'Brien was a political prisoner at Port Arthur and had his own cottage and privileges. I drew the cottage as a pen sketch at first but then, because it was the brightest thing in a doleful setting, I painted it again in colour. Again function dictates form and I wonder whether the designer of the house knew what an elegant object he had designed?

© DON DONOVAN. donovan@ihug.co.nz 
www. don-donovan.blogspot.co.nz
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Leaves From My Sketchbooks. 73. William Smith O'Brien's Cottage, Port Arthur, Tasmania

Port Arthur, Tasmania's most notorious convict settlement, is a dolorous place and the beauty of its setting and astonishing architecture are still not enough to overcome a sense of horror at its history.

William Smith O'Brien was a privileged political prisoner with his own cottage. I'm certain that whoever designed and built it had little idea of how modestly elegant it is. I sketched it quickly in pen and ink first but because it was the brightest structure in the whole, gloomy precinct, I painted it in watercolour, too. That yellow wash is inspired; I wonder whether it has always been that colour?

The final selections from my sketchbooks will follow this one.

© DON DONOVAN. donovan@ihug.co.nz 

www. don-donovan.blogspot.co.nz

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