Kimberly Art Adventure May 2018
A 13 day artistic journey with Val Johnson FRAS through wonderful landscapes, spectacular gorges and mighty rivers, painting our way through the Kimberley following the Gibb River Road, and featuring Purnululu National Park Joined by 14 artists from Sydney and Canberra, we began our journey in Kununurra, spending our first day quite leisurely, painting in the morning and joining a cruise on the Ord river in the afternoon. Then we hit the road! brushes aloft, and itching to get on our way, our first stop was at Parry’s Lagoon which has a boardwalk to a hide where one can watch the birdlife.
Setting up on the boardwalk, as we couldn’t paint from the banks because of the crocodiles, oblivious to all the travellers trying to get past us, and our bags, easels, canvas, paints, water jars, and sketch books, we spent two hours there. Some painted water lilies and birds, some painted birds and waterlilies-it was a great place.
We visited and sketched at the Five Rivers Lookout, the only place in the world where five rivers meet and the view from the 335 metres above sea level was outstanding. A challenge to paint, but some interesting work happened there.
Travelling the Gibb River road, one of the challenging roads to drive in Australia, we found a lot was sealed, but there were still some bumpy bits to give us a feeling of being outback! Great work done of the spectacular Pentacost River and Cockburn ranges. You might think that painting rivers all day would be boring- all the same! you might think.
We painted at the Durack River crossing- with its sandy banks, then at the Gibb River- totally different, with broad rocks where we could sit and paint, and the Drysdale river, with wonderful reflections of paper bark trees. It was inspirational.
Travelling onward the next challenge was to paint gorges. Galvan’s Gorge was a pretty little pool with a multi- tiered waterfall. On top of the gorge was a single Boab tree which had its portrait painted a lot that day! Manning Gorge was deep and large, and bordered by painterly paperbark trees, an ideal place for swimming and painting. Needless to say we were able to do both!
Our accommodation on the way was interesting, From the luxury of Home Valley Station, to a working cattle Station- Mt Elizabeth. Dongers at Drysdale Station, glamping at Fitzroy Crossing, and camping at Winjana Gorge and Purnululu. It is very hard to get accommodation in the Kimberley as all the resorts are owned by the big tour companies, and you can’t get into those- but we had fun and really had a taste of the outback.
Painting at Adcock Gorge, a deep green pool with a small waterfall, and driving through the Leopold Ranges was a wonderful artistic experience for everyone. Winjana Gorge painting time was wonderful- a deep sided gorge with white sand stretching on for ever, where crocodiles sun themselves in the afternoon. The water is deep green in the morning and the crocs swim by with just a snout visible.
We had a cruise at Geike Gorge, before heading to the main star of our journey- Purnululu or “The Bungles” as they are more commonly known. We spent two days painting there and were amazed by the beehive like appearance and the colours. Orange and brown.
Cathedral Gorge was supposed to be just a walk in - but there was everyone, getting out sketchbooks and jotting down ideas madly. Such an enthusiastic bunch! We painted at the Northern end and the Southern end of the park, and some took a flight over the Bungles and got some great shots.
It is very satisfying for me as mentor and tour leader, to see people painting and enjoying every minute of our show and tells, held regularly every few days, the accommodation which is varied, the meals which were great, putting up the tents and enjoying the funny portable shower our crew put up at the Bungles- we had such a good time.
On our journey I choose a theme for the trip and on the last night anyone who wants to, dresses up to that theme- and they all do! Fun!!
You might ask who do you travel with? I’ve found a company called OZ tours, and we charter them to take us on these journeys at the moment. They understand the needs of the artist and make a wonderful effort to get us to the painting spots, and are very co-operative.
Chris makes the most wonderful lunches, and dinners when necessary, and John is a great driver. This last trip to the Kimberley was great fun and we had a great mob onboard who exceeded themselves in their artwork. Val
Kimberley art tour Painting at Ivanhoe Crossing Kununurra.
Kimberley art tour camping at Windjana Gorge.
