Last Day!
Today is the last day of the residency. While I’m sad to be leaving, I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity and all the beautiful and kind people I’ve met.
At the residency house, there is a visitor’s book prompting the artists that stay to write a message or add a drawing. I added a postcard layout in reference to my classes, showing the residency house and my message on the back.
After saying my last goodbyes to the house, I had another seven hours until I needed to be at the airport. I decided to have another go at seeing the sea caves at Cave Beach. And I made it in time!
I got to check out the caves and spotted a bird nest on the cliff face in a small hollow!
Hearing all the children making up adventure and pirate stories as they explored was wonderful.
After the caves, I went up to Nobbys Lighthouse.
Let me tell you. I was grateful I got a good car park because I was not prepared for the walk up to the lighthouse! The walk was actually very nice, although the last section was a heck of an incline. The views are lovely, and the gallery at the top is beautiful—some really incredible artworks on show.
After making my way back down from the lighthouse, I still had a few hours until I needed to go, so what way to finish my trip than fish and chips at the beach?!
Armed with freshly cooked fish and chips, my art journal and watercolours. I set up for painting and just enjoyed the sun and my final afternoon.
My only regret is my hat was already packed in my suitcase, and (even after a week of 10/10 sun smarts) I decided that was fine! I’d be okay for one day without it! … Wrong. I got very burnt. My only sunburn the entire trip. While I will practice better sun smarts in the future, it wasn’t enough to put even a slight damper on my day, least of all my trip.
After a wonderful day, I made my way to the airport and flew home.
I hope you’ve found these posts interesting and that they’ve both shed some light on my art practice and helped somewhat demystify art residencies.
A massive thank you to the Lake Macquarie City Council for this incredible opportunity and to the council teams for all their help. A big thank you to you for following along!
Kind regards,
Amy
Reminder: I will post quick journal-styled daily blogs during my stay, but there will be a more in-depth reflective report after the residency.