Artists retreat in the Great Western Woodlands

Love art? And nature?

If you are an aspiring artist who loves nature & lives in the Great Western Woodlands we would like to invite you to join us for an artists retreat. This weekend will be a chance to participate in art workshops and listen to talks on art and nature all in the beautiful & inspiring surrounds of the largest temperate woodland remaining on Earth.

Lake Johnston GWW. Photo: Barbara Madden

Where: Lake Johnston
Located between Hyden and Norseman is the amazing Lake Johnston. Beside Lake Johnston is a clearing where we will be camping. To assist you in getting to the site there will be some options. Please contact us for details.

When: Anzac long weekend (23rd – 26th April)
Arrive: Friday 23rd April - afternoon
Depart: Monday 26th April – whenever you please

Workshops

Drawing workshop with Sue Kalab
Sue Kalab is a nature artist specializing in water-colour whose work brings a sense of contemplation. It is soft realism. Sue has established a studio in Bunbury and has a special interest in native birds and bush orchids. Visit www.suekalab.com

During this workshop basic helpful approaches to drawing will be explained.  We shall study and draw nature found in our location.
We will also look upon the experience as a meditation, using our senses to connect with the elements of nature.  Interpreting this into art will be the result.

Materials required:
(If anyone is unable to obtain these materials, please let me know and we can bring)

- 2 x 2B pencils
(NOT HB or B – this is the letter found along the length of the pencil that identifies the graphite quality of the pencil.  HB and B are hard, and good for writing but too hard and scratchy for drawing.  2B is softer, perfect for drawing).

- Pencil eraser  - Pencil sharpener or blade

- Cartridge paper A3 size  - Board, at least A3 size.  (Flat and smooth to lean your paper upon as you work)

- Small bulldog clips to keep paper secure on the board  - Chair, or cushion to sit comfortably on the ground

Photography with Barbara Madden
Barbara Madden is an experienced photographer who resides in Albany. She has participated in several group and solo exhibitions and is a member of the Albany based MIX Artists collective. Over the past few years Barbara has volunteered her time and many beautiful images to The Wilderness Society WA. 

Lake Johnston is one of her favorite places; she has made many visits there and is always inspired by its ever changing yet fundamentally timeless qualities.

Workshops will encourage participants to ‘tune in’ to this special place and to use your camera as a tool to express what you feel are its distinctive qualities. There will be opportunities to experiment with different  points of view, from ridge top sunset grand vistas to close ups of the wonderful vegetation and lake detail. ‘Tech talk’ will be secondary to creativity, but  you will learn the basics of  exposure, composition and focus if you don’t know them already. You will definitely go beyond only using your camera’s  ‘P’ for panic mode. 

Be prepared for some early starts as that’s when the light is special, as it is in the late afternoon also.

Materials required: Any camera will suffice, though with a digital SLR you will be able to  shoot in RAW format, thus allowing non destructive editing post capture.  A tripod is essential for low light shooting (those early starts again!) and maximum depth of field. You will gain more from the weekend if you are very familiar with your camera and its capabilities – but bring along the manual anyway. If you have a laptop with a good battery, bring it along so you can download your work and share it with the group. Otherwise, there will be a card reader and computer available for general use.

Valma Schultz - Indigenous art
Valma Schultz is a talented artist who resides in Norseman. Her work will be able to be seen at a new gallery soon to be opened in Norseman. Valma will take us through some aspects/techniques she uses. 

The Ngadju dance group will also join us for a Corroboree (www.ngadjudancers.com.au)

Materials required: Something comfortable to sit on, canvas or a workbook, brush and some paint of your choice.

Textile Dyes from Nature with Patricia Dundas & Katrina Syme
Katrina Syme & Patricia Dundas are members of the Botanical Artists’ Group of WA who share a passion for textiles. They love experimenting with natural dyes from a variety of sources, including plants and fungi. (Katrina was coordinator for the 11th International Fungi and Fibre Symposium, held in Denmark in 2003.)

They will bring all materials and equipment, including samples of wool and silk to immerse into the dye-baths. Small silk scarves will be available for participants to carry out their own dyeing, thus providing them with a tangible reminder of their time at Lake Johnston.

Talks

Scientific illustration with Katrina Syme (Botanical Artists’ Group of WA)
Members of the B.A.G. have held many major exhibitions over the past 19 years www.botanicagallery.com.au/ . They have also collaborated in projects including commissions by the Perth Mint for the Centenary of Federation for prints and coins and illustrations of WA flora for Curtis's Botanical Magazine by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK). A new book Brush with Gondwana, written by Dr Janda Gooding and published By Fremantle Press in 2008, documents the progress and history of the group and features over 100 beautiful illustrations by the artists.
Publications by Katrina and Patricia include ‘Fungi of Southern Australia’ (UWA Press, 1998), co-authored by Katrina and "Orchids of WA" co-authored by Patricia (UWA Press 2008).   Katrina is also a self-taught mycologist and vice-president of the Australia-wide organization Fungimap (Inc.) www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap , who has conducted surveys of fungi in the south coast region (and discovered numerous new species) over the past 28 years.

Katrina will talk about the history and continuing importance of scientific illustration to research into Australia’s natural history with a particular focus on the fungi.

Materials:
If you wish to do some field sketches, bring along a workbook (say A5 size) pencils & or watercolour paints & brushes. Both Katrina and Patricia are willing to offer advice.

The nature of the Great Western Woodlands - Wayne O’Sullivan
Wayne O’Sullivan is the Project Director of the Great Western Woodlands initiative at the Wilderness Society WA & also has an extensive knowledge of Eucalypt diversity.

This talk will introduce you to the amazing nature of the Great Western Woodlands.
You only need your ears for this one.

Walks

The place we are going is beautiful and enchanting, we leave the walk in the woods for your creation.

Camping Lake Johnston GWW. Photo Jessica Chapman

Cost & What we will provide:
Cost per person is $80. We are a non profit organisation & your funds will go directly into making this event happen.
We will provide you delicious dinner for the weekend retreat. All food will be vegetarian on the weekend (so please bring your own meat if you would like it). 
Please bring your own breakfast & Lunch.
Please also bring your own drinking and washing water for the weekend.

Facilities: We will provide a camp kitchen that will be available for use.
Please bring your camping facilities (i.e tent/caravan etc.), plates, cups and cutlery. During the weekend two ‘long drop’ loos will be available near the camp site.

We hope this weekend will be an inspiring and relaxing adventure in one of the last wild places left on Earth. We invite you to come and experience this with us.

To register or for more info phone Jessica Chapman 08 6460 4936 or 0400 339 439