In this oil painting, Harkness captures the specific topography of the Coromandel Peninsula, looking down the incline of Lonely Bay. The composition emphasizes the physical weight of the landscape, using rich textures to define the various types of rocks and the hardy botanical dwarf plants that cling to the coastal cliffs. The artist avoids sentimentality, choosing instead to document the actual character of the North Island’s east coast through its specific light and geological variety.

Overhead, dynamic cloud formations suggest the rapid meteorological shifts common to the region, casting a soft light over the shifting sand dunes and wild grasses. By focusing on these diverse landscape features, Harkness provides a grounded view of the water’s edge, where the variety of tree species and raw natural phenomena create a sense of place that is both quiet and deeply rooted in the earth.