Patonga Pelicans Drypoint Prints

Patonga Pelicans 14 x 17 cms
Drypoint printed in three colours and finished with Sennelier oil pastels

Drypoint 14 x 17 cms

When I return to Australia I'm always hanging out for the sight of my first pelican. Patonga, a little fishing village about an hour from Sydney, is my favourite place to spot them. I was told I'd get my best shots early in the morning when the local fish and chip shop owner throws out his rubbish. I waited in vain on Monday morning. Not a pelican in sight.What I didn't know, but the pelicans did, is that the fish shop is shut on Monday so they give Patonga a miss and go to Fisherman's Wharf further up the coast.

Next morning I was having my coffee at the local shop when I spotted the fish shop proprietor heading to the wharf with a bucket. I had no camera, no sketchbook. Then realised I had a mobile phone. In a state of bliss I got some pictures - bless my little Nokia 2700 classic - they are good enough to sketch from.

Flying Pictures - Rainbow Moments

Oil Pastel - ⓒ Lindsay Olson

I didn't think I'd ever be posting an oil pastel painting on this blog. I'm hopeless with oil pastels myself. They are, however, Lindsay's great love and forte and she has chosen them for her spread in Ronell's Flying Pictures sketchbook exchange called Rainbow Moments which is now with me in Tuscany.

Beautiful work Lindsay and a sublime mood you've created with the still, reflective water and the lovely island trees. A 'rainbow moment' indeed. I keep glancing at the picture, waiting for you to come paddling by in your canoe.

It's also a great delight to finally have some of Ronell's beautiful original watercolours . Ronell has created a gorgeous polished wax finish on her cover. There is also a special personal gift from Ronell to keep, which I won't reveal because it will spoil the surprise for the other Flyers.

Flying Sketchbook Cover ⓒ Ronell van Wyk

If you want to peek inside, you can see Ronell's pages HERE on her blog Africantapestry or at our Flying Pictures Blog, where the journeys of all seven books are being recorded.

Lindsay enclosed a secret First Aid Kit to assist with the anxiety that quickly follows the delight associated with receiving one of these beautiful books. Anxiety because one now has to come up with something to add to this beauty. I painted half a spread before I realised I was using the wrong size paper, so I started over ... and over... Don't hold your breath Casey, I may be a while!