A workshop in Blackall and another spread between Longreach and Winton saw us load up the truck and head off to central Queensland for six weeks. The country was incredibly green after all the rain and flooding. Many roads were still closed and venturing off the bitumen was a slippery, muddy exercise.
Silos on the road to Roma
This old pub at Wallumbilla looks less than inviting soaked in rain and surrounded by mud, but the local graziers couldn’t be happier.
Retirement green confusion – Morvan.
Early morning – Morven waterhole
Disused railway crane – Morven
Camping out of Tambo was a little tricky – where there wasn’t grass there was thick, sticky mud.
Sunrise through a layer of fog, Tambo
Union Hotel Blackall – still sells cold beer, but not much else
The weekly cattle sale in Blackall saw some fat’ healthy cattle, happy sellers and not so happy re-stockers.
Lisa and Bruce, from one of the big sheep stations out of Blackall, invited us out to see the end of the shearing.
These guys work flat out, fired up by loud, fast music, high demand and and a competitive attitude.
Shearing their way through several thousand sheep is hard, back breaking work.
Ancient Technology from the Isisford Picture Theatre.
Drowned caravans camped in the Barcoo River, Isisford. Ignore the locals at your peril.
An empty paddock next to the old Langenbaker House in Ilfracombe made a great place to paint
DC3 at the Qantas Museum Longreach
Retired Catalina at the Qantas Museum
Before the workshop in Winton, Dianne and I went out to the clay pans at Bladensburg to find a painting location
Willy Mar’s old market garden store, Winton
We painted Willy Mar’s old truck (now up on blocks next to his old market garden and store.
We spent a morning in the old Bladensburg woolshed painting the ancient wool press.
This was the demonstration painting I did. (Couldn’t help using Phthalo Green!)
Looking west towards Winton – an unusual sea of lush, green grass
At the Winton Dinosaur Centre, volunteers work tirelessly separating rock from fossil to reconstruct the skeletons of dinosaurs.
After the Winton workshop Dianne and I headed back out to Bladensburg to camp and watch the sun go down.
Heading east, we found this lake with amazing sunsets and fantastic birdlife.
Our camp, just visible from the top of a nearby hill
Sunset one side, full moon the other.
Splashing Paint 
As usual, your photos are amazing, John, as are your paintings. It’s wonderful to see Queensland through the eyes of a painter. Hopefully with all the rain fire will not be a big problem this year.
Best,
Jo Reimer (Oregon)
I’m so glad to get your email re your travels again. Such beautiful photos. Thank you.
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Absolutely wonderful! I wish you would do a motorhome tag along workshop! 😅
Wonderful post! Loved your photos and paintings. 🙂
It’s wonderful to read about your travels and artistic adventures again! Your photos are an inspiration and fascination to me! I’ll be looking forward more photos.
Karen
Jinn your work continues to amaze me, both your paintings and your photography and it’s great to see you and Dianne are getting to travel again. Best wishes,
Bob Sherrod
Fabulous photos – thank you, John. One longs to be right there… Liz
THANK YOU!
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Absolutely stunning photos, John. Feel so lucky to have been part of the fantastic Longreach to Winton Outback Queensland workshop. So many memories and paintings done! Thanks for such a great time.
Love the photos. It feels like a real privilege to see into your journey. Your paintings make it extra special. Thank you.Barbara
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Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful travel photos as well as your inspiring paintings. In these difficult times, it is amazing to be able to travel vicariously through your adventures. Sincerely Judith (United Kingdom)
Thanks as always for sharing your lovely photos . Will forward to my photo/nature/bird nerd friends.
Love your photography and art. Have one of your watercolor books. Great as a reference.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos, paintings and words. Such an inspiring trip. Enjoy and keep painting!
Kind regards, Jennifer Street
Travelling to the outback and rangelands of Queensland must be truly inspiring for the artists involved in your workshop. I’d love to know the palette choices made in preparation for such an adventure. Thank you for sharing these images. Yes, I, too, love phthalo green and phthalo blue.