From our base in Swansea, we spent three days painting. Day one was very hot, so we chose a location where we hoped there would be some shade.

I found a great spot among trees growing right near the sand at Mayfield Beach. Without having to relocate, it allowed for painting two subjects, if there was time. For the first painting, I chose to paint in my favourite long landscape format.

This view is looking towards Maria Island across the bay and a lovely yellow grassy point. I like the effect that the dry grass colour has in a painting. It relieves the green and brightens things up.

Still feeling enthusiastic when that one was finished and after checking with my artist friends, there was time for another quick one! So, it was back to my shady studio by the sand. This time, looking the other direction, across the water to Freycinet National Park. I could see The Hazards, and the sun was sparkling on the water. Special! But, with less than 30 minutes, it was a case of do what you can quickly.

Don’t get me wrong. Painting quickly isn’t a bad thing. It’s a good exercise to paint fast, trying to capture what you see and feel, not fiddling about, fussing and refining things.

The next day, we began with painting Saltwater Creek in Swansea. This one tested me a bit. I decided to leave out the building’s, but later thought it was a mistake. Plus, the foreground grasses proved annoying. It’s a good lesson, having things not going well. It happens often, and keeps your feet firmly planted in reality!

After lunch, we headed to the Prosser River, in the hope of finding shade. We were in luck and quickly set up under the she oaks. This scene is looking towards the Freycinet National Park again. This time following the Prosser River towards its mouth. Plus, another nice dry grass hillside.

The last day of our week away had arrived. All good things must come to an end, but we were determined to paint on the way home.

A gully beside the road, where a creek leads to a lovely little beach, looked very promising. It was very hard to decide which view to paint. The place was like a gold mine of paintable scenes. After satisfying a “paint it all” urge by taking photos, I set up my gear.

Again, I am looking across to Freycinet, but this time from part way up the creek, which didn’t look like it had flowed for some time. The water that was banked up behind the beach sand was green, but it had the blue sky reflecting in it as it rippled in the breeze.

After lunch, we thought that serious artists would find a way to create once more further down the road. So we stopped at Triabunna for a quick artistic rendezvous. This is the resultant pen and water-soluble pencil drawing. The view is looking south across the bay from the foreshore in the Triabunna town centre.

And that’s it for the trip folks. What a week it was. Keep reading for a couple of interesting updates.

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Three new ready to hang paintings were listed on Bluethumb recently. Please click images for links.

“Source” 60cm wide x 30cm high canvas $450

“La Mar” 45cm square canvas $490

“Locale” 40cm square cradled wooden panel $540

Click the images for links to each painting individually, or if you’d like to see the other art I have listed for sale, please go to Bluethumb.

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I’ll also mention that I’m participating in the Incognito Art Show (an Australian not-for-profit organisation). Each participant donates three works at A5 size which are displayed in an exhibition anonymously and are for sale at $100 each. The lucky purchaser discovers who their artist is after purchase. Funds raised this year are going to two organisations that provide professional development opportunities for artists living with a disability. Last I saw, there were over 6,000 participants! I can’t show you my pictures though because I’m incognito.

Keep up with what’s happening on Instagram and Facebook. I’m still exploring collage as part of the 100 Day Project. We’ve just passed the 60-day mark. It’s certainly leading me to new things. Not sure where. Some pieces excite me more than others though.