Join artist Ross Laurie for a 9-day painting adventure in the remote Flinders Ranges, South Australia (August 18 - 26, 2024)

THE ARKAROOLA WILDERNESS SANTUARY

The rugged, weathered peaks and rocky gorges of the Flinders Ranges in outback South Australia form some of the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the country. It's a place rich in Aboriginal history and home to a vast array of wildlife. Located 600km north of Adelaide in the ruggedly spectacular northern Flinders Ranges, this 610sq km property has a geological history dating back almost 2 billion years. This ancient landscape also has an extraordinary human history frequented by Indigenous Peoples for tens of thousands of years. Arkaroola features many unique geological monuments, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes, the home to a huge range of species of birds, reptiles and mammals including the shy and endangered Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Ross Laurie and his family live on a farm in Walcha, on the Northern Tablelands of NSW between Tamworth and Armidale. Outback Australia and it’s rugged landscape have inspired his large, chromatically warm and dynamic landscapes. Ross produces an impressive variety of images, from small charcoal sketches to densely worked studies in oil stick, to large oils on canvas.

Ross has been exhibiting in solo and selected group shows since 1981 in commercial and regional galleries around Australia. He was part of the group of 13 high profile Australian Artists who went to Fowlers Gap Research Station in 2012 with Artist Profile Magazine.

Primarily a painter, he has been teaching painting and drawing for twenty five years. His work is a response to the country on and around his farm at Walcha, in northern NSW. Ross Laurie is represented by King Street Gallery, Sydney. Ross is represented by King Street Gallery, Sydney: http://kingstreetgallery.com.au/

YOUR HOST KERRI AINSWORTH

Kerri Ainsworth (set designer, installation artist and traveller), was inspired by her passion for art and travel to design creative adventures for people, like herself, looking for a more authentic and immersive travel experience. Her background is in film, television and events as a Production Designer, Artist and Creative Director. The scope of her practice included designing and project managing the fabrication and installation of large-scale artworks and environments for Special Events and Public Spaces. Kerri has a Masters Degree in Design from the University of NSW, specialising in Public Art Installation, Event Design and Sustainable Practice.

5-DAY LANDSCAPE PAINTING WORKSHOP

The 5-day workshop focuses on painting and drawing directly from nature. Participants will improve their skills under the guidance of artist and experienced educator, Ross Laurie. During the workshop, Ross will expose the students to a variety of ideas and approaches with a mix of teaching, demonstrations and informal discussions on composition, colour, content, influences and the illusion of space, over meals in the evenings. Learn a new skill or develop new ones in a beautiful and relaxed environment. Non painting partners are very welcome.

ACCOMMODATION AT ARKAROOLA

On our journey from Adelaide to Arkaroola, we will be staying overnight in the little outback town of Hawker, at the Hawker Hotel Motel and in the Mawson Lodge at Arkaroola. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms, reverse-cycle airconditioning, small bar fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. All meals are provided at Arkaroola.

TRANSPORT

We will travel in a comfortable 19-seater bus for the 2-day journey from Adelaide to Arkaroola and return. This is a great opportunity to see the changes in landscape, visit quaint historic towns and the dramatic and ancient Flinders Ranges.

TOURS AT ARKAROOLA

Included in your daily painting itinerary, will be guided tours to to different parts of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary; the famous Ridgetop Tour, which takes you into the rugged mountainous heartland of the sanctuary, and other 4WD experiences which take a more intimate look at the geology, ecology and history of this unique region. Due to the arid environment and elevation, there is a very high degree of atmospheric transparency at night. For this reason, there are three Astronomical Observatories, one of which we will visit, during our stay at Arkaroola.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – SUNDAY AUGUST 18 – ADELAIDE TO HAWKER

Guests will be met at Adelaide airport by their host Kerri Ainsworth, artist Ross Laurie and our friendly bus driver, who will be our guide for the next couple of days. It is an 11 hour bus trip from Adelaide to Arkaroola, so we thought we’d break the journey into 2 days and enjoy the sights along the way, including the historic town of Quorn.

DAY 2 – MONDAY AUGUST 19 - HAWKER TO ARKAROOLA (6 NIGHTS)

This morning we will wander up the road for breakfast, and then head off to Arkaroola, checking out some points of interest along the way, including the spectacular Wilpena Pound. (D)

DAY 3 – TUESDAY AUGUST 20 - ARKAROOLA

After breakfast, we will be met by our local guide and drivers, who will take us out to the Ridgetop country, the oldest part of the Flinders Ranges. This landscape is really wild and rugged, mostly granite, but also includes some even more ancient sedimentary rock laid down in an ancient sea nearly 1600 million years ago. And like other parts of Arkaroola, it contains some plants unknown elsewhere which are specially adapted to these rock and soil types.  The tour includes morning tea and the world famous “Arkaroola Lamingtons.” The afternoon will be spent painting out on location with Ross. At the end of the day, relax in the Pick and Shovel Bar before dining in the Native Pine fully licensed restaurant. (B,L,D)

DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21 - ARKAROOLA

This morning, after breakfast we head out in another direction with our guide, to explore the southern part of the sanctuary, where the ancient geological history of this region has been exposed at the surface revealing hundreds of millions of years of sedimentary and glacial activity. Wander over ancient glacial rocks from Ice Ages past and ponder the vastness of geological time in Bararranna Gorge where ancient fossil sea-beds now form spectacular near-vertical cliffs.  You may also be rewarded with sightings of Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies, Wedge-Tailed Eagles and Brown Falcons among others. 

This is the perfect place to take in the atmosphere and grandeur of this amazing wilderness. We will spend the afternoon painting on location with Ross. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 – THURSDAY AUGUST 22 - ARKAROOLA

This morning after breakfast, our drivers will drop us off at a painting location for the day. Later in the afternoon, Ross will give a painting demonstration. Relax in the evening over a drink and informal discussions with Ross on the Principles of Painting. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 – FRIDAY AUGUST 23 - AKAROOLA

Today we will spend the day painting in and around the settlement. And in the evening, after dinner, we will gaze at the stars at one of the Astronomical Observatories. (B,L,D)

DAY 7 – SATURDAY AUGUST 24 - ARKAROOLA

On our last day at Arkaroola, our guide will take us on another adventure to explore the historic and picturesque, Echo Camp (1898) and then along the wide expanses of Arkaroola creek with its majestic River Red Gums. Then into the Arkaroola Creeks lower reaches making our way in and out of the creek along a rugged, at times, 4WD track. We visit the eastern end of Barrarana Gorge for a short walk then making our way out via arid rocky hills to the Wooltana Plains and stopping for a tea break at the historic Lady Buxton Copper Mine and the mysterious dry stone wall.

 Our afternoon will be spent painting on location or back at the settlement with Ross. At 4pm the guests will meet to show their artworks to the rest of the group. Tonight will be our last dinner together celebrating a shared creative experience and new friendships. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 – SUNDAY AUGUST 25 - ARKAROOLA TO HAWKER

After a relaxing breakfast, we will depart Arkaroola and head back to Hawker, where we will visit the Jeff Morgan Gallery. (B)

DAY 9 – MONDAY AUGUST 26 - HAWKER TO ADELAIDE

After breakfast we will head back to Adelaide, stopping at points of interest along the way. You can be dropped off at the airport or at a central location in the city. (B)

ART Travel Adventures

Phone: +61 (0) 417 033233
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