A QUICK ESCAPE TO HOBART WITHOUT PAINTS!
The Lady Nelson Hobart. (photo courtesy M. Riley)
Not a chance to do much sketching on this getaway.
Covid kept us all at home for a long time, but with restrictions eased between states, I had the opportunity to go to Hobart for 5 days. I didn’t think I could do too much sketching, as I would be busy with my friend Pam. That didn’t worry me at all as it as it was just nice just to get away. We flew via Link Air on a small 36 seater Saab 340. It was as a bit of a challenge as I hadn’t flown for three years. A bit bumpy with storms around and raining in Hobart when we arrived. It was fine!
Our 5 star hotel ( we thought we would live it up!) was right on the Hobart Dock within walking distance of the ferry to MONA and the Salamanca Markets and lots of eateries. And lots of inspiration for one to draw. I took a lot of photo reference though so hope to get some paintings out of it.
Day one was a trip to the MUSEUM OF Old & NEW ART (MONA) It is a place everyone should visit. We travelled by ferry, then walked up the 90 steps to the entrance. The museum is carved into the cliff and we were advised to start from the bottom. So down we went into the bowels of the earth. Mona is very confronting with some of the art on view, and some very strange works were there, like a sculpture of a man lying a glass case with no head. It was very realistic. A lot has changed since my first visit when MONA was very new. The grounds are all landscaped beautifully now, and there are cafes and a stage with lawns where you can listen to music for free, lying on bean bags under beach umbrellas.
Salamanca was our next day’s venture. There were some beautiful art and craft stalls there, but because of Covid, I didn’t think there was as much variety. In the afternoon we went for a sail around the harbour on the beautiful Lady Nelson. It is a lovely Barque and the original was very important in Australian History as John Oxley the explorer sailed to Port Macquarie in the original Lady Nelson.
Bruny Island might be a place I might have time for a sketch or two, I thought, as we drove there on tour for the Day. It was an interesting place but unfortunately I picked the wrong tour. It was focused on eating and buying things, but at the Lighthouse I didn’t go up the hill to see it- how many lighthouses does one really want to see! So I managed some sketching in pen and ink. That was about all that I did, but I enjoyed the whole 5 days break from Canberra. With renewed confidence in going away. My next blurb will certainly be a painting one as I am taking a group of fellow artists to Kangaroo Island!
Pen sketch done on Bruny Island