THE PILBARA REVISITED 2019

Sketch Pindan Cliffs Cape Leveque

Sketch Pindan Cliffs Cape Leveque

West Kimberley and Pilbara Art Tour  with Val Johnson 

14 artists boarded the bus in Broome for an amazing adventure to the West Kimberley and the Pilbara. On board a great crew form Oz Tours, Chris and John, we headed to cape Leveque. Our first painting spot was James Price Point, a secluded spot with red Pindan Cliffs and turquoise ocean- a great introduction to the tour. The Sacred heart Church with it’s alter of pearl shell at Beagle Bay Aboriginal Community was well worth a look and afterwards we continued to Kooljaman resort, our accommodation for two nights. Our accommodation was unique and comfortable but I had a frog in the toilet and had to flush it away every time I went there!!

Next day we visited One Arm point, a shell jewellery making business and fish hatchery which was very interesting.  We painted here for the rest of the morning, went back to Kooljaman and painted for the rest of the day.

Back in Broome for the night, we had some free time and went out to Gantheaume Point to paint the red rocks and enjoyed sunset with nibbles.

Wow it was a long way from Broome to Port Hedland! We did stop a couple times at 80 Mile Beach and Cape Keraudren for a quick sketch and were rewarded with accommodation at a lovely grand refurbished Hotel at the Historic port.

Marble Bar, the hottest town in Australia?! A two-hour journey from Port Hedland, ended up being 22 degrees and cold and windy. Despite this we painted at Chinaman’s Pool and Jasper pool, and were looking for a visit to the Iron Clad Hotel- but it was closed!

Onward to Karajini, the highlight of our trip! Our accommodation was in echo tents which were a long walk from the dining area, but I guess we all worked up an appetite on the way. It got really cold overnight, and next was cold and windy. The wind followed us for the next three days of our painting adventure in Karajini and still we painted at most of the gorges regardless. Such different weather from my last trip here when it was HOT!

It was very dry and not much water in the gorges. But they were so beautiful just the same. Some people ventured into the gorges to paint and some painted from the top. The painting and sketches everyone did were fabulous.

We also visited and stayed overnight at Millstream National Park and painted in the wetlands which had been burnt off two days before we arrived. One never knows what lies ahead and this is all part of the experience. It was a very black and white landscape and we all made the most of it as it was somehow very surreal and interesting.

The wind followed us all the way to Karratha and to the Burrup peninsular and even to port samson and Cossack. But we soldiered on, finding little pockets to paint in out of the gale.

So- back to Broome- a long drive again. After our final night in Broome, we all went our separate ways on separate flights carrying good memories, experiences and camaraderie with us from our adventure painting in this wonderful area.


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A painting experience never forgotten

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THE JOY OF HANGING AN EXHIBITION