Spring Country Art Escape - Avon Valley

Tour Overview:

Weekend Art Escape with Art Outdoors artist, Louise Collier and featuring guest artist, Jeanne Barnes. Jeanne is an award winning Kimberley based artist who works extensively in watercolours and is well known for her stunning Kimberley artworks, many of which feature gold leaf, ochres and real rough diamonds. The great news is, she is coming from Kununurra to join us and will be demonstrating her amazing watercolour skills and knowledge, and guiding, instructing and mentoring you to help you on your creative journey.

Enjoy a wonderful weekend art retreat exploring the beauty of watercolours and its subtleties and delicacy as a medium at the fabulous Moondyne Country Convention Centre - an absolute hidden gem, only an hour’s drive from Perth nestled high on the hillside overlooking the the Chittering Valley and Avon River with breathtaking views and surrounded by the Avon Valley National Park.

Relax and create! Includes two nights accommodation, delicious country style catering (all meals included), two days of watercolour art sessions, and sunset drinks and nibbles. There will be time for you to relax at the venue or enjoy beautiful springtime walks (check out Moondyne Creek and picturesque waterfalls on the River Walk or the stunning views on the Ridge Walk).

Spring is the perfect time to visit the Moondyne Country Convention Centre, an exclusive retreat located on an 1800 acre farming property overlooking the Chittering Valley, rolling green hills, the Avon River and surrounded by the picturesque Avon Valley National Park in Lower Chittering. Enjoy comfortable accommodation - your choice of single occupancy or twin share (every room has its own ensuite), cosy guest lounge and dining room with pot belly stoves, dining deck for al fresco meals, beautiful gardens and amazing views all around. Freshly prepared country style catering by Moondyne.

Learn new skills, meet new likeminded friends and create your own art pieces to take home with you - two frames provided for your favourite artworks.

Arrive on Friday evening for welcome drinks and nibbles whilst enjoying stunning sunset views over the Avon Valley and the opportunity to meet everyone. This is followed by a delicious dinner in Moondyne’s cosy dining room. On Saturday morning, after breakfast, enjoy our first watercolour art workshop. Suitable for beginners and the more advanced. Artist, Louise Collier, will help beginner water-colourists learn the fundamental skills and show you how to take control of this medium and produce gorgeous results.. For the more experienced, our guest artist, Jeanne Barnes, will help you take your watercolour skills to the next level. Breaks for morning tea and lunch both catered by Moondyne (weather permitting on the delightful deck area). In the afternoon, the focus will be on completing a watercolour botanical lead by Jeanne and both she and Louise will guide you through the creative process. Later in the day you will enjoy sunset drinks and nibbles, followed by a delicious catered homestyle meal.

On Sunday morning you’ll have some free time to relax or explore and. Why not take a hike to see the waterfalls on the ‘River Walk’ or enjoy stunning views along the ‘Ridge Walk’. After morning tea we will commence our second watercolour workshop lead by Jeanne Barnes who will do an ‘en plein air’ painting demonstration (weather permitting*). We have chosen a stunning on-site location* and will be using watercolours on paper to capture the breathtaking views over the Avon Valley. After a break for a leisurely lunch, our watercolour session continues to put the finishing touches on your watercolour landscape before heading home at around 3pm.

Suitable for the everyone, from the complete beginner to the accomplished artist. You will receive individual tuition and advice on composition, colour mixing and techniques (watercolour). We provide all the materials you need (including frames) and you will be guided through the steps to create your own unique pieces of art. Cost includes the use of all the art materials you’ll need, including artist quality watercolour paints and paper and two frames for your completed artworks.

* If the weather is inclement on Sunday, the ‘en plein air’ session will be replaced by an indoor workshop.

About the Artists:

Jeanne Barnes

Jeanne was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has always been passionate about art, even as a small child. She attended the National School of the Arts and went on to study fine art at Tshwane University of Technology, majoring in Painting.

Early in her career, Jeanne was focused on jewellery making. She completed an apprenticeship in jewellery manufacture, a 5 year certificate in Precious Metal Working and Mounting and has won 10 awards in Jewellery design, including prestigious awards from de Beers and Anglogold. 

 In 2008 she moved to Australia with her family, first to Dunsborough, and then to Kununurra, WA, where she worked full time as manager and jewellery designer at a high end jewellery store before becoming a full time visual artist in 2016. Her paintings are on permanent display at Artopia Gallery, Kununurra, WA and Black Stump Gallery in Broome and she has won several art prizes.

The Kimberley region continues to inspire her, its breathtaking beauty has taken her on a magical journey of inspiration and creativity.  Her work is in collections in the UK, USA, New Zealand, China, Europe , India, all across Australia and South Africa.

Her favourite subjects include the Kimberley region of Western Australia,  boab trees, people, flowers, cattle and other wildlife.  Her paintings are mainly in watercolours, and feature gold leaf,  ochres and real rough diamonds. 

Louise Collier

Louise was born in England and at the age of 17 her family moved to Perth.  She has lived in various parts of Australia since then including islands in north Queensland and the Kimberley region of WA.  From a young age she excelled at art, however it was not until many years into adulthood that she finally found the inspiration and time to pursue her talent.

For the past ten plus years Louise has been teaching art. She enjoys sharing her knowledge, satisfaction and joy of personally creating an artwork. As a lover of the great outdoors, Art Outdoors presents the perfect way to combine both her love of art and nature. 

Louise experiments across different genres and mediums that include landscapes, portraiture, life/figure drawing and uses many other mediums including oils acrylics, pastels, watercolour, charcoal, ink and pencil.

Louise’s current studio is at Settlers Cottage in Churchlands.  In 2020, she launched Art Outdoors, specialising in providing ‘en plein air’ (painting outdoors) experiences in scenic locations as well as a range of workshops and art classes at Settlers Cottage Art Studios.  She has exhibited at numerous exhibitions and was was one of two artists who conceived and developed the Go Troppo Arts Festival in North Queensland.

Pricing and Accommodation:

Cost includes:

• Two nights accommodation as per specified configuration below at Moondyne Country Convention Centre.

• Full breakfasts - Saturday and Sunday.

• Morning Tea - Saturday and Sunday.

• Lunch - Saturday and Sunday

• Dinner on Friday and Saturday nights (plus sunset nibbles and one complimentary drink each evening).

• Guidance, demonstrations, and instruction from Art Outdoors artist, Louise Collier and our special guest artist, Jeanne Barnes.

• Watercolour workshop intensive using artist quality materials - 6 hours (Saturday)

• Watercolour ‘en plein air’ art session in a beautiful scenic location* - 4 hours (Sunday*)

• All equipment and quality art materials required for both art sessions is provided for your use plus individual tuition including composition, colour mixing, techniques and more.

• Two frames supplied to complete your best watercolour artworks.

• The artworks you complete are yours to take home with you!

* If the weather is inclement on Sunday, the ‘en plein air’ session will take place indoors.

Accommodation configuration

All of the options below are for two nights accommodation at Moondyne Country Convention Centre arriving on Friday 20 October 2023 and departing on Sunday 22 October 2023. Choose your option (INCLUDES ALL TOUR INCLUSIONS AS DETAILED ABOVE):

Transport:

The tour is self-drive - see MAP for directions to Moondyne Country Convention Centre, 630 Wanaka Road, Lower Chittering WA 6084.

Food:

Breakfast (Saturday and Sunday) - full breakfast catered by Moondyne in the dining room.

Morning Tea (Saturday and Sunday) - tea, coffee and cake served during our art workshops in the dining room.

Lunch (Saturday and Sunday) - catered by Moondyne in the dining room.

Pre Dinner (Friday and Saturday) - a complimentary glass of sparkling, wine or soft drink and pre dinner nibbles

Dinner (Friday and Saturday) - catered by Moondyne in the dining room.

Alcohol - we provide a complimentary drink on each evening. All other alcohol is BYO.

Please let us know of any dietary requirements when you book – Moondyne will happy to cater to a variety of dietary needs.

Itinerary:

Friday 20 October 2023

Self drive to Moondyne Country Convention Centre – approximately 1 hour from Perth in the Lower Chittering Valley.

• 5.00pm - Earliest check in time.

• 6.00pm - Gather in the dining room (on the deck if weather permits) for complimentary pre dinner welcome drink and nibbles.

• 7.00pm - Delicious country style dinner catered by Moondyne.

Saturday 21 October 2023

• 8.00am - Full breakfast served in the dining room, catered by Moondyne.

• 8.30am - Watercolour Workshop - we provide everything you need to create your masterpieces - art board, artist quality 300gsm watercolour paper, artist quality watercolour paints, optional inks, drawing materials, frames.

  Morning session options - join Louise to learn the fundamentals of watercolour, or work with our guest artist, Jeanne Barnes to hone your existing watercolour skills.

• 10.30am - Morning tea catered by Moondyne.

• 11.00am - Watercolour Workshop continues.

• 1.00pm - Lunch catered by Moondyne, served in the dining room and on the deck (weather permitting).

• 1.30pm - Watercolour Workshop continues - this afternoon, Jeanne will lead a watercolour botanicals session and both she and Louise will guide you through the creative process to complete your artwork.

• 3.30pm - Day 1 Watercolour Workshop concludes - free time.

• 6.00pm - Gather in the dining room (on the deck if weather permits) for complimentary pre dinner drink and nibbles.

• 7.00pm - Delicious country style dinner catered by Moondyne.

Sunday 22 October 2023   

• 8.00am - Full breakfast served in the dining room, catered by Moondyne.

• 8.30am - Free time to relax or explore some of the walks or surrounding Avon Valley National Park.

• 10.30am - Morning tea catered by Moondyne

• 11.00am - Watercolour Workshop ‘en plein air’ * - we provide everything you need to create your masterpiece - art board, artist quality 300gsm watercolour paper, artist quality watercolour paints, optional inks, drawing materials, frame.

• 1.00pm - Lunch catered by Moondyne, served in the dining room and on the deck (weather permitting).

• 1.30pm - Watercolour Workshops continues, finalise your best two artworks and frame!

• 3.30pm - Finish - self-drive back to Perth.

* Please note in the case of inclement weather Sunday’s ‘en plein’ air’ session will be relocated indoors to the conference room where we will paint from reference material.

What to bring:

• Sunscreen and hat.

• Water bottle.

• A small stool is provided but you are welcome to bring your own chair along if you prefer.

• Personal belongings for a two night stay.

• Additional alcohol.

What to wear:

• An apron is provided but wear clothes that you don’t mind getting paint on.  Although watercolour paints are water-soluble, some pigments can be difficult to remove.

• Weather appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear suited to walking.

Appropriate for:

• Adults only.  All levels – Suitable for the complete beginner to the accomplished artist.

Weather policy/contingency:

The weekend will proceed regardless of weather conditions. If the weather prevents us from painting ‘en plein air’ (outside) we will either provide shelter or an alternative art session in an undercover/indoor venue and paint from reference material.

PLEASE NOTE SPECIAL EVENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY - See here