moonbeam report

Erwin sitting on a fairy mound under the full moon

Blurred Jeff with moon and Midland

Ren by moonlight – note the hat

The river at “Westies”

We weren’t entirely a batch of happy little moonbeams. I hadn’t slept the night before, Ren was hyper from his work during the week and Erwin’s head was fizzing with a bit too much beer. That was the unlikely crew.

Drawing after sunset again proved itself to be well worth the effort though, presenting just that perfect mix of ease and challenge. We started at the river bend and as it grew dark and we had downed a few ginger beers and some jelly beans we headed upriver. 1st highlight was a dog with a strobing collar that pissed on Ren’s bag . Typical, I thought, after having myself spent the afternoon trying to recover some semblance of decency to two canvases that my darling little cat had sprayed.

The shed at the river bend is an excellent subject for moonlight painting so take note.

We spent some time on that.

We finished for the night at Erwin’s fairy mound with Ren and I engaged in a deeply philosophical discussion about

1. how we were going to do the underwater safari (still a bit uncertain but it may become more sculptural at this rate) and then

2. What the Frak (thankyou Battlestar Galactica for extending my vocabulary) were we trying to get out of the moonlight safari.

3. A very interesting proposal for another night safari where we will be drawing with lights (I know its been done – but not by us!)

further deep philosophy walking back to the cars

4. All reflections point to us individually and we only have our own POV (Point Of View). Ren: the only thing we really own is our shadow. Also Ren:There is a line between normal and sane ..no insane .. no artists..maybe you know it…something about artists and insanity. Later I guess: The line between the sane and the insane is an artist. That’s it says Ren!

So ended the night ramblings.

jeff

Moonbeing Meet = 29 Jan

The moon keeps on coming around. This time we are going down to the Ray Marshall Park in Woodbridge. There is a great walk there along the river with some great views over both the river and paddocks towards Midland. There isn’t much lighting. There is a small forest as well.

Here is a link to the location  Ray marshall Park . The start time is 7pm in order to catch some of the after sunset light as well.

Remember to bring some refreshments and also some mozzie repellant. There might be some walking involved so keep yer load down as well.

You can also give me a call on 0410216074 if you are lost or just can’t find us.

jeff

Arse-end safari

Amanda and Ren desperately trying to see something to draw.

Baby Orangutang weeing

The MotorBike frogs eventually save us

Well we did the zoo again today and by popular request the outing has been renamed to the “Arse-end Safari” in honour of the fact that nearly everytime we settled in to draw some beast we ended up with wrong end.  This for some reason seemed particularly pertinent by the time we reached the zebras. We were eventually rescued by the frogs and tortoises  in the Australian wetland section. They stayed perfectly still – great life drawing models.

Ren’s earlier attempt to stir up some action by throwing his waterbottle into the elephant enclosure (he’s too nice to really do that) had failed miserably and he had get it specially retreived. It was amazing that his bottle actually reached the enclosure really because there was a tightly packed pram jam that went practically from the zoo entrance right up to the elephants and back throught the savanah enclosure and ending at the tuck shop: Lot’s of dads on holidays and out with the kiddies.

We even saw Kristen briefly – there is a rare animal nowadays. She was however on strict orders not to draw or paint and was quickly whisked off by her kids into the general maelstrom of the zoo experience.

So it was good fun but maybe fewer bottoms would have been in order – Oh, and wasps.

jeff

Zoofari – 7 Jan

Erwin on a good day

The next visit to the zoo is on this thursday at 9.30 am. The first safari of the new year. I’ll be waiting at the gates to the zoo from 9.15 to 9.30 am on that morning (7 Jan). It costs about $20 to get in. Thereafter I will probably proceed in the direction of the elephants first and then the Orang-utans (that depends on where others might want to go as well though). If you want to join me and whoever shows up then you can also give me a call on 0410216074 if you are lost or just can’t find us.
The zoo is a lot of fun and quite a challenge.

The zoo is at 20 Labouchere Rd
South Perth, but I’m sure it is hard to miss.

I’ll make sure the email updates are timely so make sure you’re on the mailing list by sending a request to artist.safari@yahoo.com.au .

Jeff.

Lazy moon

I have been a bit lazy because I have been only sending out information about what’s happening by email lately. Make sure you sign on for receiving the email if you’re interested in going to safaris. I’ll try and keep some simple posts going here for good measure though from now on.

The night safari to Ren’s place was very good and Lesmurdie Falls turns out to be a very suitable venue for drawing by moonlight. This makes me think that some of the other hills locations like the Boya Quarry might be good by moonlight as well. Also for a brief period after sunset the drawing is also excellent. Ren was the official timekeeper this last time and set a cracking agenda of 5 and ten minute sketches. Jeff

All Washed Up At The Beach: Sunday 22 Nov.

The summer safaris are coming. I admit that it has been a bludge for a few months now, but we are back and the next lunar expedition is coming shortly after this one. Generally though we probably won’t do this as frequently as once a week – except if someone (Ren!) gets a brainstorm. I haven’t got a good photo to do this spot justice so the streetview will just have to do. Join us for a few hours of sketching.

View Larger Map

Location & Meeting time: 2.30pm Sunday 22nd November where Beach Rd comes to an end at the sea near Marmion. There is a lookout just there. Call 0410216074 if your lost. Map Link

Suggested to bring along: Drinking water, light easel and materials, hat, suncream  etc. It is probably going to be windy as well.

My Artistic Moos: Sunday 27 Sept.

Is this your Moos?

I’ve got a  hankering for beef at the moment and I thought that we could go to  the nearest  takeout (for me at least) and get a serve of prime (sorry for the “poor taste” humour  here Amanda).

I’ve got a whole herd of them in a little paddock just off Benara Rd in Caversham at the entrance to Smallbrook Retreat  (SmallBrook Rd) and think they look tame enough for a group of timid artists on safari to paint.  I’ll be there at 2.00pm.  There is plenty of shade since it will be a bit bright and perhaps hot in the sun (it is Sunday).  Moos be here. Phone me (Jeff) on 0410216074 if you need more directions.

Building a bridge: Sunday 13 Sept.

Nothing fancy this time : too boring to do since I have been doing web pages all week.

The what and the where…..

There is a lot of building bridges activity happening at Middle Swan Road. Erwin and I have agreed to go  there on sunday at 2pm rain or hail (which we probably shall have). See you down by the river. Phone Jeff on 0410216074 if you need more directions than this.

Suggested to bring along: Hat, suncream, umbrella, light easel and materials.

Big Valley: Sunday 30 August

Casein Painting of the "Big Valley" - jeff bryant

I’ve been to this spot once before as you can tell from the image. I thought to share it with others though for a change. I had a terrible time of it last week, though I note that Kristin did well (as usual) being a hardened outdoors painter (with some good advice to offer as well). This  location is at the entrance to Bell’s Rapids in the Walyunga National Park.

Location: The meeting point will be on just outside the gate to the Bell’s Rapid’s entry. We can walk to the spot from there. We will have the sign out along where we are going to diverge from the main road. It is not far so you could always yell out if you are lost. This is the map reference with some directions as well: Big Valley. Phone Jeff on 0410216074 if you believe he might help you reach your destination.

Meeting time: 2.30pm Sunday 30 August.

Suggested to bring along: Hat, suncream, umbrella, light easel and materials. We’re still about painting.

Mofflin: Sunday 23 August

Thanks to Kristin for this spot. It is an intimate bush setting with a flowing creek and a footbridge. Sort of reminds me of Monet’s garden – wrap your head around that. Because of the great success of last week as a painting expedition I am hoping that we’ll continue in this vein for a while. The more outré safaris are not lost and forgotten for you more adventurous artists, but we are being very trad for a while.

Location: The meeting point will be on Mofflin Ave in Darlington. We will have the sign out so keep an eye ready for it. This is the map reference with some directions as well: Mofflin. Phone Jeff on 0410216074 if you believe he might help you reach your destination.

Meeting time: 2pm Sunday 23 August.

Suggested to bring along: Umbrella, MOSQUITO REPELLANT, light easel and materials. If you want to follow the crowd then think about painting.

Wot Happened: I froze.