New Zealand Odyssey; Tobacco Crop, Brooklyn Farm, Motueka

'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.

The Motueka area in 1988 had an abundance of hop and tobacco farms. The hops go on today, but tobacco has become a no-no, having killed generations of smokers. It's still legal to grow the crop, but under very strict regulations, and if there are any tobacco farmers left they will have little to hand over to their heirs.

The crop was picturesque and the aroma inside that drying kiln was seductive. So, within a short lifetime this has become an historic picture and a once proud occupation 'Tobacco Farmer' as desirable as a kiss with hepatitis. 

Interestingly, Keith Holyoake, a prime minister of New Zealand, who died five years before I did this drawing, was once a tobacco farmer in Motueka; nothing to be ashamed of then.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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New Zealand Odyssey: Inglis Hops, Riwaka

'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.

The architecture of this hop drying kiln at Riwaka in the west of Nelson province derives from its function, nothing else; and like so many functional buildings it has its own, unique charm. There were others like it in the area (whose climate favours both hops and the now pariah tobacco) but I haven't seen anything in the rest of New Zealand that looks quite the same. I did this painting in 1988 but I imagine that the kiln still exists. 

I'm not the only artist to be attracted to this subject, Rita Angus did a superb painting, 'Hop Kilns, Motueka' in 1941, have a look at it, just put the title in the Google search box.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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