THE UNFOLDING LANDSCAPE WITH DEBBIE MACKINNON-STANLEY,TASMANIA
Join artist Debbie Mackinnon for an 8-day/7-night painting adventure in Stanley On the remote northwest coast of Tasmania (March 1 - 8, 2025)
AN 8-DAY ART EXPEDITION IN REMOTE STANLEY & THE TARKINE (MARCH 1 – 8, 2025)
Stanley is a romantic town sitting on a slender sliver of land jutting out into the Bass Strait on Tasmania's northwest coast. It is remarkable for its incredibly well-preserved colonial buildings and its massive volcanic plug. The plug rises 150 metres out of the water and dominates the small town. The Tarkine, Australia's largest expanse of cool-temperate rainforest blankets Tasmania's north-west. It’s a mossy, magical place; an enchanted forest framed by buttongrass moorlands and a rugged coastline.
ABOUT THE ARTIST | DEBBIE MACKINNON
Debbie Mackinnon is a contemporary artist based in Sydney and the Central Coast of NSW. Her drawings and painting explore landscape, looking at that fine line between abstraction and realism. Debbie trained as an illustrator and followed a profession as an art director for London publishers Dorling Kindersley and Frances Lincoln and then as an author/designer of a series of award winning children’s books. Moving to Australia 22 years ago, she was inspired by the light, texture and colour of our rugged coastlines to take up her easel and paints once more.
Debbie lectured at Billy Blue College of Design for 15 years and now paints full time. She founded ME Artspace, an artist run initiative in North Sydney, where she works and exhibits. Debbie’s work is in private collections around the world. https://debbiemackinnon.com/
THE UNFOLDING LANDSCAPE | ART WORKSHOP
Under the guidance of artist Debbie Mackinnon, you will be painting and drawing directly from nature. We will be exploring different locations every day from the quaint, colonial village of Stanley, and the wild buttongrass fields and forest on the roof of The Nut to the mysterious forests and hidden world of the Tarkine. During the workshop, Debbie will show you how to capture the beauty of nature, while exposing you to a variety of ideas and approaches, with a mix of teaching, demonstrations and one-on-one mentoring. Debbie can help and inspire participants at all levels of experience and encourage returning guests to push their craft further. All levels of experience welcome. Partners are welcome to join us.
THE VILLAGE OF STANLEY, IT’S DELICIOUS CUISINE & THE NUT
An historically important town, Stanley is nestled below the Nut in a region that calls itself 'The Edge of the World'. It is a classified town full of beautifully preserved historic buildings. The Nut, a volcanic plug towers over the town. The plateau of the Nut is a mix of vast buttongrass fields and forests and can be accessed by a chairlift or a 15 minute walk. Although there are only a few restaurants and cafes, the cuisine is delicious, as are the local Tasmanian wines. For a pre-dinner drink, be sure to go to the Stanley Wine Bar, whose interior is cosy, charming, old-world and quirky.
OUR ACCOMMODATION IN STANLEY
We will be staying at the Stanley Hotel in the town centre and Stanley Village Waterfront suites and apartments, just down the road, a 10 minute walk to the coast. The accommodation in the hotel is clean, fairly basic, with ensuite bathrooms and home to one of the fabulous restaurants that we will be visiting, the Stanley Bistro. Down the road, on the waterfront, is the Village, where the suites and apartments are more upmarket. Have a look for yourself on the website and decide where you’d like to stay. https://www.stanleytasmania.com.au/
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – SATURDAY MARCH 1 – STANLEY (7 NIGHTS)
Fly into Launceston this morning or the night before, so you can meet our bus, Wells Waggons at the airport at 11.30am. There you will be met by our teaching artist Debbie Mackinnon. The very scenic drive to Stanley takes 3 hours. On arrival around 3pm, you will check into your room and at 6pm meet for drinks at the Stanley Bistro (within the hotel), followed by our Welcome Dinner. (D)
DAY 2 – SUNDAY MARCH 2
To start our journey, after breakfast, Debbie will give an introduction to the workshop on the hotel verandah. After which we will explore the town and harbour, stopping to paint and draw along the way. Each day we have a takeaway lunch, so that we can continue painting wherever we are. If the weather is inclement, we can return to the verandah, which has a lovely view of the town. (B,L)
DAY 3 – MONDAY MARCH 3
Today after breakfast, we head off to explore the Nut. As we will be drawing and painting on its plateau all day, be sure to take a stool, and your art materials, as well as plenty of water and your lunch. A lightweight backpack is a good idea. You have the choice of walking to the summit (15 mins, quite steep in parts) or taking the chairlift. (B,L)
DAY 4 – TUESDAY MARCH 4
This morning, after breakfast we walk to Tallow Beach, from which there are magnificent views of the Nut and the town below, as well as interesting gnarled driftwood and sanddunes. Don’t forget your sunblock! (B,L)
DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY MARCH 5
At 8am this morning, Wells Waggons will pick up the group and drive to Smithton where we will have a quick breakfast before heading to the Tarkine. We will stop at various locations to sketch and explore cool-temperate rainforests, a mysterious rocky arch deep withing the forest, and sinkholes with their chorus of frogs. (B, MT, L)
DAY 6 – THURSDAY MARCH 6
Today is at your leisure to be spent painting in and around Stanley, visiting the historic Highfield House (2k walk), revisiting some of the locations or developing the sketches you did yesterday in the Tarkine. You might like to meet, at the end of the day at the wine bar, which has tasty cheese platters and gourmet pizzas. (B)
DAY 7 – FRIDAY MARCH 7
This morning we will head off to Godfreys Beach and the Penguin viewing platform to paint and draw. After which we will head back to town to continue painting. At 4pm we will meet on the verandah to have a group showing of our work. Then at 6pm we will head over to the wine bar for a drink before our Farewell dinner down at Hurleys Seafood Restaurant. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 – SATURDAY MARCH 8
Our bus will pick us up at 9.30am from both locations and head off to Launceston airport. We should arrive around 1pm, so make sure your flight is no earlier than 2.30pm. (B)
INCLUSIONS:
• 5 DAYS TUITION WITH OUR ARTIST/TUTOR DEBBIE MACKINNON
• 7 X NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION IN STANLEY
• ALL BREAKFASTS & 5 LUNCHES INCLUDED
• WELCOME & FAREWELL DINNERS
• BUS TRANSPORT TO & FROM LAUNCESTON AIRPORT
• TRANSPORT & LUNCH TO THE TARKINE
• CHAIRLIFT TO SUMMIT OF THE NUT & RETURN
• TOUR HOSTED BY ATA DIRECTOR KERRI AINSWORTH
EXCLUSIONS:
•AIRFARES • BEVERAGES INCLUDING ALCOHOL
• ART MATERIALS • SERVICES NOT MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY
• MEALS NOT LISTED IN THE ITINERARY
• EXPENDITURE OF A PERSONAL NATURE
A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF $500 IS REQUIRED TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING
Art Travel Adventures Pty Ltd
Phone: +61 (0) 417 033233
info@arttraveladventures.com.au