Artist in Residence - wrapping it up

My Artist Residency at Blackall has come to an end, but not before a couple of final exciting days.

On Monday I ran a Coptic Journal workshop for 8 wonderful ladies, all of whom had participated in the gelatine monoprinting workshop over the weekend.

We created small books using left-over prints, cartridge paper, marbled papers, japanese papers and other decorative papers.   I encouraged them to make a book that was tactile and interesting, with different paper textures and sizes.



Some of the beautiful journals

These books will make ideal visual diaries, notebooks, or just something beautiful to hold and feel.

For my final day, I rode out to the cemetery to stroll amongst the decaying gravesites of Blackall pioneers from the 1800's and 1900's.   I did another few laps of town, collecting some more of my favourite leaves to take home with me so I can continue with my printing.

Its ironic but on this last day I discovered the beauty of the Kurrajong leaf.  The tree, common around the Blackall township, is known as the Broad-Leaved BottleTree.  Quite a few leaves found their way into my suitcase!

Robyn and Helen dropped in to have a go
at gelatine printing, you can tell how much fun
they were having!

My flight back to Brisbane via Longreach was smooth and uneventful, disappointly cloud prevented me seeing a lot of the landscape.

I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the Blackall Cultural Association and Flying Arts for the wonderful AIR opportunity, I'd particularly like to thank Sally and Ros, Robyn and Terry and Helen, and to all the ladies who dropped in at my studio or who came to my workshops.  The Barcaldine girls get a special mention, I hope to see them with their new etching press sometime soon.  Claudia the mosaic artist was a great companion during the week at the Living Arts Centre, thanks for the tips on running children's workshops!  My AIR was a very exciting and fulfilling experience which will impact on my art practice for a long time and, as a city girl, I learnt a lot about living in a remote community.  Next time I'll remember to BYO my own decaf coffee!