Forest Boot - Key Summit

Forest Boot II – Key Summit - A black ballpoint pen drawing capturing the peaceful balance of Fiordland’s alpine track, with kea and native flora

There’s something special in the way nature and human traces meet in Forest Boot – Key Summit Drawn in black ballpoint pen on white paper, this piece focuses on the details of the Key Summit track in Fiordland. I chose this simple medium to let the textures of flax leaves, the calm surface of the tarn and the shifting patterns of light and shadow stand on their own.

At the center of the composition is the tarn, framed by native bush and the flaxes that give this place its character. I aimed to convey the quiet balance here, the still water, the sturdy plants and the vast sky above. But the kea reminded me that the wild always holds surprises. Their playful energy as they explore and nibble at vegetation brings movement and curiosity to an otherwise peaceful scene.

While drawing I thought about Key Summit as more than a view. It’s an ecosystem where every form, roots, leaves, water and sky, depends on each other. The reflection in the tarn, the tussocks strong roots and the rounded shapes of the bushes spoke to me of the connectedness of life.

With this drawing I wanted to create a space where all these elements coexist in harmony and to show that even a simple path in Fiordland can hold deep meaning. Using pen and paper felt right for capturing a place where every stroke reflects the living ties between land, history and the creatures that call it home.