Join artist Ross Laurie for an 8-day/7-night painting adventure on remote King Island, in the Bass Strait (February 16 - 23, 2025)

AN 8-DAY ART EXPEDITION ON REMOTE KING ISLAND

King Island is a wild, remote, windswept dot in the ocean between Tasmania and Victoria in the Bass Strait. It boasts over 145kms of coastline, delicious gourmet produce, fresh seafood and a wide and unusual variety of seabirds and wildlife. It is an island with a rich and interesting history of shipwrecks and survival and a quiet atmosphere of magic with its wild and lonely beaches, hidden wetlands and gnarled fairytale-like trees crying out to be painted.

ABOUT THE ARTIST | ROSS LAURIE

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 its 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 show 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 26 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. https://kingstreetgallery.com.au/artists/ross-laurie/

YOUR TOUR 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

THE UNFOLDING LANDSCAPE | ART WORKSHOP

Under the guidance of artist Ross Laurie, you will be painting and drawing directly from nature. We will be travelling to different locations every day from rugged, deserted coastlines, to hidden wetlands, farms with grazing cattle, stands of twisted tea trees and the picturesque Currie harbour. During the workshop, Ross will show you how to capture the beauty of nature, while exposing you to a variety of ideas and approaches, with a mix of teaching, demonstrations and one-on-one mentoring. Ross can help and inspire participants at all levels of experience, and encourage returning guests to push their craft further. All levels of experience welcome. Partners are welcome.

THE BOATHOUSE | A UNIQUE RESTAURANT WITH NO FOOD!

The Boathouse is an institution of King Island. As you approach, a sign announces "A Unique Restaurant With No Food." Perched high above the harbour, more like an abandoned lounge, it is quirky and offbeat. This is the creation of local artist Caroline Kininmonth. It is both an art installation, with her artworks and treasures collected from the sea and a place to meet, relax and share a meal with friends. Caroline created this community space for people to get together and enjoy the wild beauty of island.

WHALETAIL HOUSE | DESIGNED BY 2 KING ISLAND ARTISTS

During our stay on the island, we will visit the home of King Island residents and artists Dianne and Andrew Blake who fashioned a beautiful home on a barren, windswept sand dune. Andrew and Dianne had been living and working in the arts with indigenous communities in Arnhem Land for 20 years. Wanting a change, with time and space to pursue their own art practice, they found a patch of windswept coastline on King Island and decided to make it their home. It is decorated with their own sculptures, paintings and prints, as well as indigenous artworks that they have collected over the years.

THE LONG LONELY COASTLINES

Much of the history of King Island is of dramatic and tragic shipwrecks, not surprising when you wander along this wild and treacherous coastline. Disappointment Bay is a beach of such outstanding natural beauty, that it’s difficult to equate it’s tragic past with its enchanting wild steely blue green seas, fascinating orange tinged rocks and white sandy beaches.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16 – KING ISLAND (7 NIGHTS)

Welcome to King Island. On arrival, you will be met by your host Kerri Ainsworth and taken to your accommodation, Island Breeze Motel. We will be dining tonight with our artist Ross Laurie and our two local guides, Trish and Saan Clemons, sampling the delicious cuisine for which King Island is famous. (D)

DAY 2 – MONDAY FEBRUARY 17

We start our journey at The Boathouse at Currie Harbour, where Ross will give a demonstration followed by a morning of painting. After lunch, our local historian, Trish Clemons, will meet us at the King Island museum, where she will entertain you with the colourful and dramatic history of the island. After which, we will continue painting around the harbour. (B, L)

DAY 3 – TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18

Today we head off to the other side of the island, stopping to draw and paint at Naracoopa Bay. After lunch we will go to Trish & Saan’s property to paint & draw stands of the wonderfully gnarled and twisted Tea Trees. (B,L)

 DAY 4 – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19

This morning, after breakfast we head out to the remote home of artists Dianne and Andrew Blake, whose very unusual home, Whaletail House, was featured on the television program Grand Designs Australia. After a tour of their house and a delicious morning tea, we will spend the rest of the day painting on their property. (B,L)

DAY 5 – THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20

Today is at your leisure to be spent painting in and around where we are staying, looking out across the rugged coast over rolling green fields, or a short walk away to the moody Curry Harbour. (B)

DAY 6 – FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21

This morning we will head to the wild coastal cliffs of Seal Rocks and in the afternoon to Cataraqui an area famous for its terrible shipwrecks. When you see this treacherous coastline, you’ll be inspired by its wild beauty and brightly coloured rock algae and sea plants. It’s a great place to paint wide vistas or make intimate nature studies. (B,L)

DAY 7 – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22

This morning we will will head north-east to Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Australia and then on to the enchantingly beautiful Disappointment Bay. Later we will return to our accommodation where we will review our work with a group discussion, after which we’ll head off to The Boathouse for our farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23

Depending on their outbound flights, guests will spend the morning finishing their paintings before flying back to the mainland. (B)

PLEASE NOTE: If you have mobility issues, please contact me to discuss before booking. There will be some walking and you need to carry your art materials.

Art Travel Adventures Pty Ltd

Phone: +61 (0) 417 033233
info@arttraveladventures.com.au