'Finding My Way' is a new body of work, 20 watercolour and crayon paintings on paper and panel that I created during my residency at Lon Retreat. I couldn't be more excited to finally share these pieces with you, they've been a long time in the making.
For the unfamiliar, Lon Retreat is a luxury hotel and spa in Point Lonsdale, Victoria. They offer several artist residencies a year, each culminating in a exhibition inspired by the property and local surrounds. I signed up to do this residency before I was even pregnant with Ned! So it's been a long time in the making. May 2023, I think it was.
I made several trips out there to discover, sketch and absorb. There is just so much to explore with private beach access via beautiful sand dunes, 250 acres of rolling hills and farm, a labyrinth, flower garden and moonah forest. Inspiration was abundant! It was the moonah forest that took my breath away though and inspired this whole show. You can read more about this part of the process in this blog post.
Opening Celebration
All are welcome
4pm - 6pm
Thursday 14 November
Lon Retreat, 25 Gill Rd, Point Lonsdale, Victoria
The works will also be available for viewing and purchase online from 8pm, 14 November 2024 on my website.
Exhibition Dates
14 November 2024 - 5 January 2025
You're welcome to visit any time during Lon's opening hours. Drop in to see the artworks and whilst you're there treat yourself to a massage or a dip in the mineral pool. This retreat has just won Best Spa in Australasia at the annual Spa and Wellness Awards. There's a coffee cart too, with heavenly snacks!
We are also planning a deluxe one day art retreat at Lon early in the new year, keep an eye out for more details.
The studio stocked to the hilt, just before Carli Wilson Photography came in to document everything for me. I usually try and do it myself, but I haven't worked this large in a very long time so I needed to bring in the professional.
A little more about the show
My first journey to the moonah forest on Lon’s property completely captivated me and it’s from this experience that ‘Finding My Way’ sprung. The walk itself felt like a little adventure with awe and discovery around every corner. Spending time amongst the ancient trees had a visceral effect, calming and contemplative. I left feeling grounded and inspired.
Through the process of the work the trail also became a perfect little metaphor for navigating my way through life, especially after a testing few years. Discovering new versions of myself, stumbling along, feeling a little lost, growing and learning, finding myself in the weeds and working my way out.
The body of work came together using watercolour and crayon on paper and panels. Granulating pigment is a subtle but consistent baseline in the underpainting of each work. I enjoyed the grit and imperfection that brought to the surface, it reminded me of the feeling of dust and salt on my skin on the walk. I played with the softness of watercolour in conjunction with more raw, hand-drawn elements with opaque crayon to build a language of boldness, movement and curiosity.
Working from photos, sketches and memory a colourful, fluid representation of the forest emerged, dancing the line of reality and dream. I used various aspects and perspectives to evoke the ranging emotions of the experience as well as changing light and times of day. Having the moonah forest at the heart of everything felt like I was let in on a very special secret.
Here are some of my photos from at the moonah forest:
