The stretch of the Heysen Trail from Waitpinga to Tugwell Road is one of those walks that stays with you long after your boots are off. It’s rugged coastline at its best. The cliffs rise dramatically out of the ocean, with endless views of rolling surf crashing below. I've always wanted to spot a whale or dolphin but haven't yet! The path winds along the edge with some of the most spectacular views on the trail.
Sometimes, you just have to stop and take in the sheer scale of those cliffs. They’re layered with colour, shifting from warm ochres to deep shadowed blues depending on the light, always reminding you how ancient this landscape is.
My painting of the Waitpinga cliffs tries to capture that moment when you’re standing on the trail, looking out across the sweep of coastline, caught between the power of the ocean and the stillness of the land.
Waitpinga Cliffs to the Bluff is painted in a rugged style, just like the cliffs. Using a palette knife I built the paint up in layers to emulate the raw beauty of this scene. This is a smaller version of the larger piece that will be painted for the exhibition, measuring 25x30cm on canvas board.
