New Instant Video Project
A quick and easy technique to capture the essence of a subject using pen and ink and just two colors. Complete step by step instructions, HD Video, PDF Download, Rent or Buy
https://www.johnlovett.com/video-projects
All Text and Images © John Lovett 2019
After 660 kms of dusty corrugations down the Gibb River Road, we enjoyed a brief stretch of bitumen across to Halls Creek. An overnight stop and we were off down the Tanami Road to Alice Springs. The Tanami Road is 1100kms of mostly well graded dirt with some patches of bulldust and rough corrugations. The Aboriginal Communities of Billiluna and Yuendumu sell expensive diesel.
After stocking up in Alice Springs, we spent a couple of days in the Eastern MacDonnell’s before heading East along the Plenty Highway – a long strip of corrugated dirt that cuts straight across the Northern Territory into Queensland
Freshwater Crocs are thriving at (an almost dry) Windjana Gorge
The Tanami Road cuts through the Tanami Desert from Halls Creek WA to Alice Springs NT
We spent a night at Wolf Creek Crater – Dianne, having not seen the movie, was pretty relaxed about camping there under a full moon, I had a bad nights sleep with a wheel brace under my pillow.
Believe it or not, this piece of corrugated iron architecture was on wheels.
Tanami Roadtrain
Finches at a rare waterhole along the Tanami.
Billiluna Community
Billiluna Footy Field – all dust and rocks
Can’t drive past a wrecked car without stopping to take a photo. This one was so good we camped the night to get the early morning sun.
Wedgetail enjoying breakfast.
After stocking up in Alice Springs, we headed out to the Eastern MacDonnell’s for some pretty spectacular walks.
Not far down the Plenty Highway we came across this rolled Toyota. It must have been there a couple of days because all the wheels were gone. Judging by the scattered debris, it must have been some Japanese Tourists heading off on an adventure.
The white dot in the middle is our camp . Huge amounts of nothing through the middle of the Northern Territory, but when you stop and look around the scenery can be spectacular.
Budgerigars
Stockmen at Tobermorey Station
Tobermorey Horse Breaker
Tobermorey Sunset
Red dust
Crossing into Queensland, the Plenty turns into the Donohue. This was the smoothest dirt road we encountered
Donkeys watching Humans come to a sudden halt in a big cloud of dust.
Our Outback Workshop moved from Kakadu/Litchfield, over to Kununurra via Katherine. Moving across the boarder into Western Australia brings a change in the landscape from speargrass savannah to rocky outcrops and giant Boab trees. The landscape was unusually dry for this time of year. Normally creeks are full, waterfalls are flowing and the landscape is greener but, unfortunately, the last wet season was almost non existent.
Spectacular, close up view of Katherine Gorge
Kununurra sunset changes the landscape completely
Couldn’t resist painting this old Studebaker truck at El Questro Station
Rock Wallaby keeps watch over Chamberlain Gorge
Chamberlain Gorge
Distorted landscape around Lake Argyle
After the Outback Workshop finished, Dianne and I collected our truck we had stored in Kununurra and headed of down the Gibb River Road via Wyndham and Parry Lagoon
Bell Gorge – one of the many waterholes along the Gibb River Road
Water Monitor – Bell Gorge
At the end of the Gibb River Road is the Napier Range. A spectacular band of twisted Limestone running East West across the Southern Kimberley. We spent a few days camped under the range painting, walking, sketching and photographing
Bee hive in a cave in the Napier Range
Outside Studio
An amazing place to paint and explore
After a long drive and another great workshop in Blackall, we arrived in Kununurra where we left our truck and flew to Darwin to start the Outback workshop with International Artist. Following a couple of days painting in Litchfield National Park we headed out to Kakadu for some painting and exploring. One of the highlights of Kakadu is the Yellow Waters Cruise. We have done it many times and it is always spectacular and always different.
Whistling Ducks
These Jakana chicks hatch out of the egg with small fluffy bodies and ridiculously over sized feet
As they grow the body gets bigger and less fluffy and the legs grow even further out of proportion.
Azure Kingfisher
Nankeen Night Heron
Deceptively happy looking Crocodile.
Floating and watching
Large Egret
Water Buffalos are starting to breed up again in Kakadu
Yellow Waters Sunset
Painting at Anbangbang Billabong.
From the Falkland Islands we made our way to Argentina, stopping first in Montevideo, Uruguay, then ending our cruise in Buenos Aries. After the workshop finished, Dianne and I stayed on in Buenos Aires for a few days to explore the city.
After a second smooth crossing of Drake Passage, we stopped for a day at Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The islands are low, treeless and windswept. The older architecture in Stanley is interesting. Apart from a few buildings made of brick or stone, most construction is of timber and corrugated iron. The design of the buildings are still traditionally British – even down to the picket fences, but the unusual materials take some getting used to. An attempt to make the place feel like home I guess, but they miss out on that balmy British weather!
There are many of these old Nissin Huts, left over from various wars. All the buildings have a flaking, rusty patina caused by the constant freezing and thawing and the continuous howling wind.
An interesting graveyard for wooden boats at the end of Stanley Harbour.
Young penguin hiding in a burrow above the beach
Mum and Dad socialising on the beach
No one climbs through the fences
Male Upland Goose – common on the islands
Brand new Landrovers waiting delivery
Anchorage for fair weather sailers.
The Falklands had a very British feel – friendly British accents, Landrovers everywhere, Pubs serving Ale and money bearing pictures of the Queen.
Heading South from the tip of South America, we crossed, an oddly calm, Drake Passage and continued down into the Antarctic Peninsular. We had a number of sea days with no land in sight, but much bird and marine life to observe between painting sessions.
Once into the Antarctic Peninsular Icebergs drifted by as we passed through unimaginably spectacular scenery
Cape Petrels
Giant Petrel
Wandering Albertros
Scientists from one of the research stations boarding the Zaandam for lectures
Argentine research station
Chilean research station – surrounded by penguins
Our painting room on the Zaandam had huge windows, so as we worked, we could watch the landscape drift by.
Splashing Paint 