Forest Boot - Key Summit
Forest Boot - Key Summit
30 × 20 cm
Ballpoint Pen on Fine Art Paper
In my drawing "Forest Boot - Key Summit" I wanted to capture the unexpected beauty that arises when nature and human-made elements intersect. Using just black ballpoint pen on white paper, I focused on the intricate details of the Key Summit track, a place in Fiordland that’s both familiar and wild. The simplicity of the black and white medium felt right for conveying the rawness of the landscape, while also allowing the texture of the place to come through—whether it’s the delicate flax leaves, the reflective surface of the pond, or the play of light and shadow that dances across the scene.
The composition centers on the pond at Key Summit, surrounded by native bush, flaxes, and the unique flora that defines this area. I wanted to emphasize the feeling of stillness and balance that exists within this environment. The quiet pond, the stoic plants, and the sense of infinite sky above, all come together to create a peaceful, almost meditative space. But the kea, with their curious, playful energy, add a sense of life and movement to the scene. As they nibble at the vegetation, I see them as a reminder of the unpredictable, adventurous side of nature—the kea never sit still for too long. They are always poking around, questioning, exploring. In a way, they symbolize that same sense of curiosity and wonder that I hope we all carry with us.
While I was drawing, I thought about the beauty of a place like Key Summit—not just as a physical landscape, but as an ecosystem where everything has its place, and everything depends on something else. The reflection of the sky in the pond, the strong roots of the flaxes, the soft, rounded forms of the bushes—all of it seemed to speak to the interconnectedness of life. We often think of nature in terms of its parts—the trees, the birds, the sky—but in reality, it’s all one living, breathing system.
In this drawing, I wanted to create a space where all of these elements exist in harmony. I wanted to show how something as simple as a place—like a hiking track in Fiordland—holds so much life and meaning. And that, by using a simple medium like pen and paper, I could convey a depth of connection that runs much deeper than we might expect.