On The Verandah Art Itineraries
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Kimberley
Untutored Artists Retreat |
Kimberley Painting and Drawing Workshop with Judith White
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Kimberley Painting and Drawing Workshop with Michael Herron
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7 DAY ITINERARY*
May 6 - 12, 2021 Day 1 – Thursday 6 May If you have spent your early morning flying or driving into Kununurra, we’ll meet you mid morning, at the airport. If you arrived the day before, we’ll pick you up from your accommodation. We'll grab an early lunch from a Kununurra cafe then travel to Digger’s Rest Station. On arrival we’ll get you settled into your bush hut or bunkhouse room. You’ll meet the owners, Alida and Roderick Woodland and their staff and enjoy dinner around 6.30pm, by the fire or on the stonehouse verandahs. Day 2 – Friday May 7 We have a gentle start planned for today but if you do rise early and wander out on the flat, you’ll be glad you did - the pre-dawn colour show on the Cockburn Range is something else. Billy tea will be on at the fire from 6 with breakfast around 7.30am. You’ll have until lunch to immerse in your art and for those who would like to try fishing for barramundi - the tides are just right mid-morning. After lunch continue your work in the bush studio or feel free to relax. Mid afternoon we’ll gather everyone up and travel to our favourite panoramic location under the boabs to enjoy our official welcome champers and nibbles. Experienced horse riders can schedule a ride#with Digger’s Rest. (Additional cost and conditions apply for horse riding.) Dinner back at the station is about 6.30pm. Day 3 – Saturday May 8 Grab your sketchpad (or camera/tripod) and join us for a Billy Tea and dawn art session in the Boab grove, about 10 minutes drive from the station. Then it’s back to the station for breakfast. You have the option of an art session (or free time) around the homestead until lunch. There are good tides again mid-morning to give barramundi fishing a try. Late in the day we have an option to drive 10 minutes to watch the sunset on the King River (with optional cold beverage and sketchpad) returning to the station for dinner around 6.30pm. Day 4 – Sunday 9 May Today you have the option of joining a full day excursion or staying at the station to relax or work on your art project. The outing begins with a visit to the historic Prison Boab tree, followed by a good local gallery of aboriginal cave art, and an opportunity to sketch, paint or photograph a spring-fed, waterlily-covered, paperbark-lined billabong. The location is renowned for bird watching so pack your travel binoculars if you’re fond of a twitch! We visit a bird hide at Marlgu Billabong and a lookout where you’ll gain an appreciation of the extent of the Parry Creek wetland system, and why it is prized worldwide as a biodiversity hotspot. Next, it’s our shout for lunch at a local café before a visit to historic Wyndham Port; wander through the quirky museum; meet some local characters; wander the quirky second hand store or along the wharf. We wrap up the day at the Bastion lookout contemplating sunset views across the Cambridge Gulf before a meander back to the station for dinner. Day 5 – Monday May 10 Billy tea is on at the fire from 6, breakfast around 7.30am. Today you have until lunch to immerse yourself in your art (or put your feet up and watch the goings on of the station from the comfort of a hammock!) After lunch, pack some art materials, camera gear, binoculars, swimmers, towel, walking shoes etc as we head to a special place hidden in the valley. We arrive back at Digger’s Rest in time for happy hour and a freshen up before dinner and some music around the fire. Day 6 – Tuesday May 11 Billy tea is on at the fire from 6, breakfast 7.30am. We have options up our sleeve for additional exploring but we’ll be guided by you as to whether you’d like to spend more time out and about or continue with your art. Tonight is our exhibition and party so we generally pack up mid-afternoon and hang the works. After 5pm we’ll open the exhibition and let the champagne flow. Come dressed with a flourish of Kimberley colour to celebrate in Kimberley style. Dinner about 7.30pm. Day 7 – Wednesday May 12 Billy tea is on at the fire from 6, breakfast 7.30am. There is scope to fit in an early activity or you may prefer a leisurely coffee/tea and chat by the fire. We'll either have an early lunch or pack a picnic and at midday we say our goodbyes to Digger’s Rest. We’ll arrive in Kununurra in time for your afternoon flights or drop you at your hotel. *All itineraries are provided as a guide. We reserve the right to vary itinerary due to COVID considerations, weather, safety, road access, time constraints, station and third party priorities and situations out of our control. Similarly, items may be added to the itinerary as opportunities arise at the station. During the workshop, you’ll be able to refer to the noticeboard each day and check for changes. #Horse riding is an optional extra for experienced riders under 90kg. Conditions apply. Arrange rides with station staff on arrival. |
9 DAY ITINERARY^
June 28 – July 6, 2021 Day 1 – Monday 28 June If you have spent your early morning flying or driving into Kununurra, we’ll meet you mid morning, at the airport. If you arrived the day before, we’ll pick you up mid morning, from your accommodation. Once all guests have been collected, we travel to our first venue nestled in a high-walled ancient valley, set up for our two night camp and have lunch. Set up your workspace then cool off with a swim in the spring-fed pool. Knock over a quick sketch as we enjoy sunset from the community lookout. Afterwards it’s welcome bubbles and nibbles and dinner around 6.30pm. Day 2 – Tuesday 29 June Prepare for a full day immersing in the pandanus fringed landscape with art demos and sessions led by Judith. Day 3 – Wednesday 30 June An opportunity to get the most from the art sessions all morning, before we pack up and have lunch. After lunch we travel to the Digger’s Rest Station for the remainder of the workshop. On arrival we’ll get you settled into your bush hut or bunkhouse room. Meet the owners, Alida and Roderick Woodland and their staff, and enjoy dinner by the fire or on the stonehouse verandahs. Day 4 – Thursday 1 July There's no super early start planned for today’s activities but we encourage you to rise early so as not to miss early wildlife or the morning colour show on the Cockburn Range (best just before sunup). Billy tea will be on at the stonehouse from 6 with breakfast around 7.30am. Listen out for the breakfast bell! Digger’s breakfasts usually have either cooked bacon, beans, eggs, snags and cereals and fruit. After breakfast dive into an art session with Judith stopping for lunch around midday. Continue your work in the bush studio. Mid afternoon we’ll travel to a river side location and head back for dinner on sunset. Day 5 – Friday 2 July Enjoy an art session around the homestead until lunch. Art continues in the bush studio with the option of a break before we leave for an afternoon panoramic art location (taking some soil samples and textures) to take us through to sunset and returning to the station for dinner. Day 6 – Saturday 3 July A full day is available to immerse yourself in the bush studio, catch up on washing, or lie in a hammock! Those keen to try barramundi fishing, please let Andrew or Rachel know in advance. Birdwatchers keen for a Gouldian ‘twitching’ session let Andrew or Rachel know in advance. Day 7 – Sunday 4 July After breakfast, pack your art materials, swimmers, towel, thongs and walking shoes. Around 8 we’ll leave with our picnic for a day out and explore new scenery. We’ll be back at Digger’s Rest in time for happy hour and a freshen up before dinner. Day 8 – Monday 5 July We have options up our sleeve for additional exploring but we’ll be guided by Judith and you the guests as to whether you’d like to spend more time out and about or continue on your works in the bush studio. Tonight is our exhibition and party so we’ll knock off mid-afternoon and hang the works. Around 5.30pm it’s time to party and ‘officially’ open the exhibition! Wear splashes of Kimberley colour to celebrate in Kimberley style. Day 9 – Tuesday 6 July Enjoy a leisurely morning or schedule a horse ride#(conditions apply). By 10am we say our goodbyes to Digger’s and head into Kununurra to meet your afternoon flights. Time permitting we’ll visit a wetland or lookout before going to a café for lunch. ^All itineraries are provided as a guide. We reserve the right to vary itinerary due to COVID considerations, weather, safety, road access, time constraints, station and third party priorities and situations out of our control. Similarly, items may be added to the itinerary as opportunities arise at the station. During the workshop, you’ll be able to refer to the noticeboard each day and check for changes. #Horse riding is an optional extra for experienced riders under 90kg. Arrange rides with station staff. |
7 DAY ITINERARY^
July 9 – 15, 2021 Day 1 – Friday 9 July If you have spent your early morning flying or driving into Kununurra, we’ll meet you mid morning, at the airport. If you arrived the day before, we’ll pick you up from your accommodation. We'll grab an early lunch from a Kununurra cafe** then travel to Digger’s Rest Station. On arrival we’ll get you settled into your bush hut or bunkhouse room. You’ll meet the owners, Alida and Roderick Woodland and their staff and enjoy dinner around 6.30pm, by the fire or on the stonehouse verandahs. Day 2 – Saturday 10 July We have a gentle start planned for today but if you do rise early and wander out on the flat, you’ll be glad you did - the pre-dawn colour show on the Cockburn Range is something else. Billy tea will be on at the fire at 6. Listen for the breakfast bell around 7.30am. Digger’s breakfasts often have a selection of bacon, beans, eggs, snags, cereals and fruit. Prepare for a full day immersing in art sessions with Michael, starting with a sketching session at the rocky bar or billabong head and later around the station, there'll be art demos and bush studio time. Late afternoon we'll down tools for welcome bubbles and nibbles at the panoramic sunset spot followed by dinner back at the station. Day 3 – Sunday 11 July Today we're getting you up early to catch the soft morning light in the boab grove with a cuppa and snack onsite. Its back to the station for breakfast around 8am before spending the rest of the morning in the shade of the verandahs as Michael builds on the field exercise and leads demonstrations and discussion. Late afternoon we'll head out with the eskies for an Erskine Range view (and if you'd like to throw a line in, it's a good spot) and we'll be back in time to freshen up before dinner. Pack your day bag for tomorrow as it's an early start. Day 4 – Monday 12 July Breakfast 7am - Arrive packed and ready to go! Today we're exploring multiple sites including a waterlily lagoon, cave art, the historic prison tree and a secluded, ancient valley, returning shortly after lunch. Spend the afternoon in the bush studio. Day 5 – Tuesday 13 July By now you have so much material to work with, you're probably looking forward to some solid studio time to consolidate your work, so that's what the morning looks like. But you need a break too, so late afternoon we'll drive onto the vast expanse of the marsh country. The space is boundless and humbling; for some it is a chance to clock out, take in the scale of the landscape and enjoy quiet mind time and for others it is trying to capture it with a sketches or a photo or by collecting samples. If time allows we'll loop to an unlikely oasis and return to the station for dinner around 7. Day 6 – Wednesday 14 July Billy tea is on from 6, breakfast around 7.30am. Today you can immerse in the bush studio, catch up on washing, or lie in a hammock! Those keen to try barramundi fishing, please let Andrew or Rachel know. Tonight is our exhibition and party so we’ll knock off mid-afternoon and hang the works. The party kicks off around 5 - dress up in your Kimberley finery! Dinner about 7.30pm. Day 7 – Thursday 15 July Billy tea is on from 6, breakfast 7.30am. Enjoy a leisurely morning and at 10am we say our goodbyes to Digger’s Rest and head to Marlgu wetlands and bird hide for some crocodile spotting and birdwatching. After lunch at Parry Lagoon's Cafe (our shout) we'll continue on to Kununurra to meet your afternoon flights or drop you back at your hotel. ^All itineraries are provided as a guide only. We reserve the right to vary itinerary content due to COVID restrictions, weather, safety, road access, time constraints, station and third party priorities and situations out of our control. Similarly, items may be added to the itinerary as opportunities arise at the station. During the workshop, you’ll be able to refer to the blackboard each day and check for changes. #Horse riding is an optional extra. Conditions apply. You can arrange rides with station staff on arrival. ** This café lunch is at the guest’s expense. |
