Not a chance to do much sketching on this getaway. Covid kept us all at home for a long time, but with restrictions eased between states, I had the opportunity to go to Hobart for 5 days.

 I am on another painting trip to Illara Waterhole with Sandrifter Safaris. I think this is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. You would have read in my first article how difficult I found camping to be. Well the place was so beautiful that I could just not resist going again.

I never was much of a one for painting en plein air but a long time agA QUICK ESCAPE TO HOBART WITHOUT PAINTS

Covid has kept us all at home for a long time now, but with restrictions eased between states somewhat, I had the opportunity to go to Hobart for 5 days. As I had a friend with me I didn’t think I could do too much sketching, as we would be busy. That didn’t worry me at all as it as it was just nice just to get away.

We flew via Link Air as I had a credit for the flight. Just a small 36 seater Saab 340. It was as a bit of a challenge as I hadn’t flown for three years. It was fine, it was a bit bumpy as there were storms around and raining in Hobart when we arrived. The rain didn’t last so we didn’t get wet. A friend was on the flight and we were able to get a lift with him which was super kind of him.

Our 5 star hotel ( we thought we would live it up!) was right on the Hobart Dock within walking distance of the ferry to MONA and the Salamanca Markets and lots of eateries. And lots of inspiration for one to draw. I took a lot of photo reference though so hope to get some paintings out of it. It was hard to control my itchy hand though.

Day one was a trip to the MUSEUM OF Old & NEW ART (MONA) It is a place everyone must visit. We travelled by ferry, then walked up the 90 steps to the entrance. The museum is carved into the cliff and we were advised to start from the bottom. So down we went into the bowels of the earth. Mona is very confronting with some of the art on view, and some very strange works were there, like a statue of a man in a glass case with no head. It was very realistic.

A lot has changed since my first visit when all was very new. The grounds are all landscaped beautifully now, and there are cafes and a stage with lawns where you can listen to music for free, lying on bean bags under beach umbrellas.

Salamanca was our next day’s venture. There were some beautiful art and craft stalls there, but because of Covid, I didn’t think there was as much variety. In the afternoon we went for a sail around the harbour on the beautiful Lady Nelson. It is a lovely Barque and the original was very important in Australian History as John Oxley the explore sailed to Port Macquarie in the original Lady nelson. My late Husband and I went sailing on her in 2001 so it holds happy memories for me. One day I shall have to paint it! Artistically of course!

Bruny Island might be a place I might have time for a sketch or two I thought, as we drove there on tour for the Day. It was an interesting place but unfortunately I picked the wrong tour. It was focused on eating and buying things, but at the Lighthouse I didn’t go up the hill to see that, so managed some sketching. ( how many lighthouses does one really want to see!)

So that was our trip. I was a bit exhausted as we didn’t stop, so came home for the rest I was planning to have!

The food was terrific, as were the non- alcoholic mocktails I had! Tassie certainly knows how to do a menu in style.

My next blurb will certainly be a painting one as I am off taking a group of fellow artists to Kangaroo Island !

o now, perhaps about 2007, I heard about Sandrifter Safaris who took artists to outback Australia to paint. Being at a bit of a loose end in my life I decided to go with them to paint at Illara Waterhole.

We set off on this my first time taking other people away to paint. I must say I was pretty nervous to begin with as never had I done this before. There was only 6 for this trip and we flew to Launceston and joined our chartered bus and driver.

Great! Direct flight from Canberra to Perth! Fred William’s ‘Pilbara series’ was my inspiration, so armed with sketch book and camera I set off on an adventure up the coast of W.A and inland to Karijini National Park.

I left Sydney on the 13 May to fly to Athens with Canberra artist Michael Winters, then to Leros. There were sixteen of us on this painting tour of Leros, one of the Greek Islands.

In August I went back to Illara Waterhole with Sandrifter Safaris and a group of other artists to paint. Painting and sketching for larger work to do back home is what I usually do- but this time I decided to try something else- drawing.

‘Painting -Holidays -in- France with Simon Roberts’- I saw it on Facebook! It jumped out at me. I found that this holiday was a weeks painting in the South of France in a small village called Pouzoules near Beziers. I had to go!!