With thoughts remaining of the sun drenched golden sands of Emily Bay to the endless variety of green hues of the Palm Glen and Norfolk Pine forests, we have arrived back home leaving a bit of our heart behind on the beautiful Norfolk Island.                                                                                               Norfolk 2

Ken Tucker’s en plein art group spent a wonderful week of creating art, happy snapping at every turn, immersing in culture, partaking of fine dining and enjoying each other’s and the locals’ companionship.

Whilst basking in the ambience of this gentle, picturesque atoll we were always mindful of the sad history that underlies all that exists there.

Ruins that silently narrate past stories of violence and courage now provided interesting architectural and still life subject matter for us all to paint.

Norfolk 1Norfolk, with its endless natural beauty of dramatic coastline, presented a constant challenge for the selection of en plein setups; too many choices and so much beauty in the diversity of sea, land, & mountain scapes.

Home, Kiama, was always briefly in spirit with us, not only with the visual familiarity of the Norfolk pines, but the familiar breezes (or occasional gales) as they presented.

But our gums were noticeably absent as, in every “colour of the rainbow”,  the Norfolk  “Hibiscuses” added vibrant tones to the verdant blankets.

And tropical palms of every genus provided secret hideaways for terns, boobys and noddys.

Such was the dedication to their art practice that some members of the group were up religiously sketching every morning at dawn.

The photographers also burnt the candle at both ends, trying to capture the ethereal magic of a dawning and concluding day.

Hearty art critiquing ensued every evening over happy hour.

The local free- ranging cows and chooks ensured their presence  – “in our face” – daily & continually, offering to be artists’ muses it seemed.

New friends made, old friendships strengthened, the environment, nature, culture and history all documented on canvases. Norfolk Island you have given us memories we will cherish forever.

A very heartfelt Thank You from Ken & myself to all the En Plein group for your warm friendships and the enthusiasm with which you all “seized each day” as it presented during our Norfolk Island Adventure.

Ken & Lea (Photos Lea Tucker)

‘Twas a fine, fruitful & fun adventure!

Regards Lea & Ken Tucker

9th April 2015