Painterly Obsessions: Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Artist in Residence Program May 2021

Painting at Lookout Point, Commission Road via Apple Tree Flat
Image: Ryan Jenkins

At times, being a painter can be a highly solitary profession. When I’m engrossed in an artwork, hours can feel like minutes while I’m alone in my studio, my only company music and brushes. On occasion I thrive on this remoteness, yet it can get a little lonely.  As such, when I was invited last year to spend time with like-minded people to create art, I leapt at the chance.

The 2021 Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (MRAC ) invited five artists, Travis De Vries, Mark Dober, Michelle Earl, Marie Mansfield and I to participate in their Artist In Residency (AIR) program. In May last year, three from the group (Mark, Marie, and I), spent five idyllic days together painting and exploring, within the majestic Wollemi National Park , New South Wales.

Our days were spent sharing meals, creating art, and talking. We discussed our thoughts on everything art, from painting techniques to art prizes and studio spaces. After long days of exploration and creation, our little apartment was the perfect place to relax and unwind together as a group. The smell of oil paint and linseed drifted in the air, the familiarity made us all feel completely at ease. These evenings we shared thoughts and works from the day before collapsing into our beds with our artistic cups full of inspiration and our bodies exhausted.

I’ve always rejoiced in the discovery of inspiring landscapes, and as part of this experience, we were lucky enough to visit seven incredible and unique panoramas in the Wollemi National Park. These landscapes included the Hunter Valley grasslands ( Inlet Road, Bulga) and plains ( Lookout Point via Appletree Flat - images below), mountains (Mount Neilson and Widden Valley), bushland (Baerami Creek and Ruben’s Trail) , and even rainforest vegetation (Terry’s Creek, Putty Road).

For me, en plein air is an obsession. It occupies my thoughts all the time. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by the beautiful Hunter Valley which I endeavour to never take for granted. During long car trips on the highway, I find my mind constantly drifting to the inspiring natural colours and textures which surround me. I ruminate on how I can recreate these in my practice often blending paints in my mind. I take mental notes and make plans to explore these mixtures at the next opportunity. This residency provided me with five days of non-stop opportunities, and I could not have been happier!

I am eternally grateful for this opportunity and would like to acknowledge Elissa Emerson, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre Staff, Muswellbrook Council, Faye Neilson, Singleton Art and Cultural Centre, Singleton Council and Shane Forty , National Parks for this truly unique and precious experience.

'Viewpoints: Wollemi National Park' Exhibition
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre and Singleton Art and Cultural Centre
May 13 - July 3 2022
Enquires: MRAC (02) 6549 3800 /artcentre@muswellbrook.nsw.org,au

Yours in art,

Bec xoxo