January 2009

I cannot believe it is 3 years since I updated my web page. Time flies and life moves on. I have been very busy with trips and painting but have also been unwell. Chronic fatigue is a mysterious and debilitating disease, however after almost a year I was finally diagnosed and with the help of the most wonderful doctor Dr Greg Emerson www.drgregemerson.com.au I am well on the road to recovery. Painting again, teaching and travelling. I will be in Tuscany in July teaching at The Watermill at Posara. More information on www.watermill.net or my Art Tours.

2007 I returned to the Greek Islands with a painting group and then travelled through the UK and Scotland, teaching at Park Castle at Cornhill. Very enjoyable painting courses.

2008 I stayed at home, endured surgery and recuperated at home. Won a few prizes and had fun experimenting with new ideas and styles.

2009 will be a fantastic year the worst is behind me I am painting, teaching again in February. My teaching trip to Tuscany will also include some painting in France and in the Yorkshire Dales with my friend Ann Lang.

At last I will be having a purpose built studio in my back yard, all those years of painting on the verandah, in the garage and the spare bedroom are over. I will spread out and splash paint about with gay abandon.

Happy painting, Lyn.

October 2006

The happy traveller returns. My trip to Greece was very enjoyable with a small group of ladies. We walked, painted, sailed on small fishing boats and enormous ferries. Ate at amazing little tavernas and interacted with the jovial locals. It was very hot this year so many happy hours were spent in the pool and Mediterranean sea. Symi and Rhodes were included on the itinerary, Symi is a particularly interesting island. The very deep sea harbour is surrounded by steep hillsides covered by gorgeous little homes in soft pastel colours. The Italians inhabited this island and their influence on the architecture is evident everywhere. Huge cruise ships and massive ferries fill the tiny harbour and disgorge hundreds of tourists everyday. Dianna understands artists’ need for peace and tranquillity so we were happily ensconced in the old town high on the hill out of the hubbub, affording wonderful views of the countryside.

Our last day was spent in Rhodes shopping and sightseeing then we all parted company.

I then travelled to Italy, where I planned to spend a month painting and staying with my wonderful friends the Wakefields. Two days in Rome and I was glad to be on the train to Umbria, the countryside is absolutely spectacular! Such a change from the barren rocky islands of Greece, intense farming, ancient hilltop villages and miles of patchwork farmland. The Italians were warm and friendly, however out in the country very few speak English.

Unfortunately I injured my back lugging suitcases about and had to return home early. Months of physio, massage and plain rest have helped enormously and I am almost fighting fit again. The paintbrushes are out again, and I am back at life drawing every week.

Keep smiling and keep painting! Plan to come paint overseas with me next year! Lyn

20th October 2005

What a trip. I took 10 enthusiastic painters to the beautiful Greek Islands of Leros, Lipsi and Kalymnos, with day trips to Turkey and Patmos. We painted, walked, talked, ate, shopped and partied for 3 glorious weeks. The weather was luxurious, hot with no humidity, some enjoyed swimming in the aquamarine waters of the Mediterranean or the pool at Babis Bar. Friendships were formed and a very memorable time was had by all.

I was fortunate to be able to join the David Taylor workshop the following week and travelled to Venice, Salzburg and Prague where I spent 15 days being a student. David is an excellent painter and an enthusiastic teacher. The group was very large which made it difficult for David to give lots of individual attention, however I learned a lot from him and hope to incorporate some of his methods into my own paintings.

Travel certainly broadens the mind and I just don’t know how they are going to “keep me down on the farm” now that I’ve seen Prague. I made some wonderful new friends and contacts and when I travel again I hope to catch up with some them.

My workshop for the Qld Watercolour Society is at the end of the month, followed by one at Noosa, Imbil and Bli Bli, then I will concentrate on my paintings over the Christmas New Year period.

Next year will be very busy, workshops are booked for the early months and I take 2 groups to the Greek Islands, May is filling fast and there are a few bookings for June. If you want to chat to me about these tours give me a call, I’m sure you would have a wonderful time.

My retrospective show opens on 2nd Nov, also featured are some of the paintings I painted outdoors in all these wonderful places, the paintings are generally small but have an essence, a freshness, which cannot be captured in the studio.

I hope you all have a wonderful festive season and during the summer months get outdoors and paint, it’s hard but it’s so rewarding.

Happy painting Lyn

4th July 2005

Back home safely after my sojourn in the sunny Greek Isles.  Ten painters, a partner, our guide Dianna, and myself spent three glorious weeks painting, sight-seeing, eating, and generally having a wonderful time in Leros, Kalymnos, and Lipsi. The days were sun-drenched with long twilight evenings which we enjoyed after our afternoon nap (siesta), the shops and businesses closed between 2 to 6 pm, during which time, the locals ate, frolicked on the beach, or just had a nap, after 6 pm, all the shops opened, and restaurants were still serving dinner at midnight.

The painting outings were always different, some secluded beaches with their own local tavernas, busy fishing ports, or cafe lined cobblestone streets.  Ancient buildings, churches, farms, and farmyard animals all became wonderful subject matter.  During the three weeks I encouraged the painters to experience new techniques, pen and wash, wet in wet, saturated paper, vignettes, sketching, perspective, composition, and portraiture. 

Our trip to Greece was primarily a holiday, and everyone joined in the party atmosphere including a fancy dress night, birthday party, sailing and picnic days, also shopping trips to Turkey, Patmos, and Cos.  

It was a great opportunity to meet other artists and share their experiences and learn from each other making new lifetime friends. An experience none of us would have missed.

I spent 10 days in Turkey prior to the painting tour, many of our group added other destinations to the trip, some went on to France and England to visit family, others visited Italy for a holiday. We are now sharing our digital images on the net and I eagerly await the return of my 18 rolls of prints to use as source material for my forthcoming exhibition in November. 

The August Sept trip is fully booked so I will just have time to catch up at home, pack my bags and head off again missing the worst of the Toowoomba winter.

Next year the tours will be in May and June, we will go to Kalymnos, Symi, Rhodes, email me for an itinerary costs and booking procedure, some bookings are already in place.

Happy painting Lyn