The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse
Original Ink Drawing

Size: 78 × 38 cm ( 92 x 55cm framed)
Medium: Ink on Fabriano Watercolour Paper
Time Spent: 25 hrs
Framing: Professionally framed with acid-free matting and standard glass (not UV-protective or non-reflective)
Availability: One-of-a-kind original

Price: $1400 NZD (includes packaging; shipping extra)

The Story Behind the Artwork

This drawing began as a moment of imagination. I found myself picturing a lighthouse deep within Fiordland, standing in a place where no such structure exists. I wondered what its light might touch if it swept across that untouched landscape.

In this imagined scene, a solitary beam cuts through Fiordland’s deep southern darkness, not to guide ships but to momentarily expose the life that thrives unseen. A New Zealand fur seal rests on a slick rock while a Fiordland crested penguin emerges quietly from the bush, mid-step, caught in the sudden glow.

This work became a study in contrast, not only between black and white, but between seen and unseen, mystery and clarity. Only a fragment of the landscape is illuminated; the rest fades into shadow and suggestion. I wanted the viewer’s eye to rest where the light falls, yet still wonder what else lingers in the dark beyond it.

As with most of my ink work, I let the detail draw you in. But here, I allowed the untouched spaces to speak, the blankness becoming part of the story. It is a quiet kind of narrative, one where absence deepens presence and light becomes a metaphor for discovery.

Fiordland is full of secrets. Maybe this lighthouse doesn’t exist, but the wildlife it reveals certainly does.

🖋️ Signed original
📄 Includes a story insert and certificate of authenticity
📦 Shipping and is custom - please contact me to arrange safe delivery.