Artists drawn to the red earth

What started as a dream became a reality when artists Mel Brigg, Lori Pensini, Joanne Duffy and Simon Hemsley collaborated with The Studio Gallery to take up the challenge and immerse themselves in the rugged landscape of the Pilbara.

The final results will be presented in the exhibition Beyond Karijini: The Pilbara and Cheela Plains, One Landscape — Four Responses.

Their love of the Australian outback combined with the need to paint was enough for each artist to pack up their art supplies and head to the North West, namely Cheela Plains Station, a family-owned and managed cattle station in the semi-arid pastoral ranges of the Pilbara.

The artists each approached the landscape in their own way, exploring the incredible gorges, waterholes, riverbeds and more at their leisure.

They set up easels and tables at their favourite spots, sketching, painting and photographing the amazing colours and shapes surrounding them.

The Studio Gallery directors Sandy and Steve Tippett said sharing this experience with the four artists had been extremely rewarding.

“All four of them are true artists, each accepting a challenge and an opportunity to step outside the box,” they said.

“They were united by the privilege of sharing and absorbing this incredible landscape with like-minded people.

“Each holding a different interpretation of their experience in The Pilbara, the artists’ many sketches and photographs created on location have culminated into an extraordinary exhibition.”

Beyond Karijini: The Pilbara and Cheela Plains, One Landscape — Four Responses will open on Saturday, April 20, at The Studio Gallery and Bistro at 6pm.