AN ABORIGINAL ART EXPERIENCE - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

The lobby of our Port Douglas accommodation had an array of leaflets, letting us know the many wonderful things we could do with our time in Far North Queensland.

One leaflet in particular caught my eye though, and I was very excited to experience it's offerings.

Having always been interested in art in all it's forms, I thought how wonderful to be able to experience creating my own piece of Aboriginal Art.

The Janbal Gallery, in Mossman just outside Port Douglas is owned and operated by Aboriginal Artist, Brian "Binna" Swindley.  He offers a one hour workshop (cost $50) where you can paint your own small canvas or boomerang.

The best part of the hour I spent with Binna, learning how to paint my canvas with a bamboo skewer, was the fabulous stories he told of his Kuku Yulanji culture, and more especially, his beloved Mum, Janbal, after whom the gallery is named.  He obviously adored and respected his Mum, who sadly passed away in 2002.  Some of Janbal's own art pieces are displayed in the gallery.

The tiny canvas I painted was only 10cm x 10cm, but the whole experience was gigantic.

Using only 3 colors, white symbolizing the rainforest, ox red symbolizing the earth and ox yellow, symbolizing the sun, Binna taught me to create simple dots and lines with the skewer and told me to just relax, "it is supposed to be stress free and relaxing" he said.  I must admit to being a little timid at first, but I soon got into the swing of things and became thoroughly relaxed.

All the while, Binna was sitting opposite me, creating his own pieces and talking to me of his Mum, his life and his art.  It was fascinating!

My piece came out Ok I think, but is no where near as stunning as some of the pieces Binna was creating, and he made it look so easy and effortless.  Incredible!!

I could have stayed there all day listening to and watching this incredible artist

Brian "Binna" Swindley, creating an amazing piece of art

Binna and I with my completed piece

Please visit the Janbal Gallery website to learn more, and if you are in the area I encourage you to take a workshop, or at least call into the gallery as he has some amazing pieces for sale.

---

You may also like:

BACK TO THE LAND DOWN UNDER, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, AUG 2015

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS

CLIMB THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE, YES I DID!!