Did you come to the Lines in the Sand arts festivals at Straddie?

From 2009 - 2014 myself, Jo Fay Duncan and co-creators ran artists' residencies, (hosted at the Headland Chalet), conversations, enabled outdoor installations around the Gorge Walk and headland workshops.

Our 2026 Artist-in-residence program at Soul Lodge, Amity Point is this year hosting the first residency program since these times and is part of the Straddie Arts trail. We aim to make it an annual event, which is our way of supporting artists and bringing people together and attention to the fragility and beauty of nature here.

There are now a range of ways you can become involved this year:

🫵🏽 Join our full retreat program Which is program plus accomodation $1140 - $1540

🫱🏽 Have your own accomodation? Join our full day program October 22 - 25 $300

✍🏽 Observation, Composition & Your Own Style, Thursday workshop October 23, 10am - 12pm

🌊 Waves, Water's Edge & Horizons, Friday workshop October 24, 10am - 12pm

🫶🏾 Beach Finds & The Art of Still Life, Saturdayworkshop October 25, 10am - 12pm

🙌🏽 Artists Talk, Sunday October 26 10am - 12pm

🏝 Beach Finds & The Art of Still Life, Saturday workshop October 25, 10am - 12pm

Be apart of something beautiful, by booking in here

https://events.humanitix.com/nature-art-retreat

In particular, Beach Finds & the Art of Still Life with Maureen Hanson immortalise those whimsical beach finds with an art work. We share a range of art materials for you to find the medium that works for you.

Working on a variety of paper sizes and textures, with this pencil, pen, pastel and ink this workshop at Soul Lodge studio and gallery will help you define your style and your take away is an artwork and keep sake of the island,

To this workshop bring your own favourite shell, feather or drift wood. But we have plenty of our own to share. Materials provided.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Learn the skills to create beautiful compositions, guided and inspired by experienced Brisbane artist Maureen Hansen, on-location at island paradise North Stradbroke Island.

Experiment with a range of water based and dry media, covering the basic skills of observation to develop your own mark and your own artwork.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This workshop is for beginners and experienced artists. Everyone is welcome.

You may never have been to the island before, or come to the island regularly.

WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE

Straddie is an island paradise, just a couple of hours from Brisbane and accessible only by boat. On the island, Amity Point faces the calm waters of Moreton Bay and is renowned for its sunsets, beach tracks and wild life; koalas, kangaroos and bird life.

You can also attend our artists talk for FREE which is on Sunday at 10 am - 12pm.

Please note this is just one workshop in our annual Nature Art Retreat Program, for which you can find out more by clicking here https://events.humanitix.com/nature-art-retreat

Or subscribe to this channel.

Come for one retreat or come five times a year to connect with our island community and range of island style retreats.

ABOUT Special Guest & Artist-In-Residence, Maureen Hansen

Maureen Hansen trained under William Robinson at QUT in the late 1980’s and carries on the tradition of observational painting as influenced by 20th Century Modernists like Matisse, Bonnard and the Fauvist group.

For 30 years Maureen Hansen has continued the tradition of plein-air painting brought to us by the Impressionists. By painting her immediate surroundings over hours at a time, Hansen mixes the colours unique to Queensland.

Hansen is a true colourist who paints directly in front of her subject for hours observing changing light from life. Typically, Hansen’s paintings are known for their saturated colour in oil or gouache and their gestural brushwork. Her exhibitions feature landscape, still life and portraiture.

Her work is found in Parliament House Collection Canberra, Brisbane, Ipswich, Redcliffe and Warwick Art Collections. She has been awarded the Tattersalls Landscape prize and Churchie Art Prize. Overseas, Hansen has exhibited in London and St. Petersburg. Her portrait of Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens was published in the 2017 edition of Rolling Stone magazine in Berlin.

You will also have the opportunity to work with Jo Fay Duncan, who is your host and a well experienced island artist and workshop facilitator.

HOW TO GET HERE

If travelling by car from Brisbane, it is just 45 minutes to Toondah Harbour, in Cleveland and 45 minutes by vehicle ferry to our island.

By public transport, train will bring you from Brisbane to Cleveland and connecting bus to the water taxi which takes 25 minutes to get to the island. Island bus service will meet you take you across the island.

WHAT TO BRING:

Whilst art materials are provided, favourite media and canvases are recommended.

Journaling is a wonderful practice to foster, for taking notes, drawing, jotting down any ideas, visions or perceptions that come. So bring your own sketch book.

Bring water bottle and food for any special dietary requirements you may have.

A NOTE ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY

We are an event friendly to all genders, generations and cultures. The venue is accessible to those of differing abilities and mobilities.

About THE ISLAND

The ancient sand and waters of North Stradbroke Island, is known as Minjerribah or Terrangeri to the Quandamooka Peoples. It is surrounded by the salt waters of the Coral Sea; fresh waters lakes and ecosystems within the island; wet and wild bush land throughout its interior; surrounded by surf beaches and mangroves on the bay side. The island is dense with animals, birds and sea creatures who make themselves known to us in surprising ways.

TRAVEL

Allow an hour to travel from Brisbane either by car or train to the Toondah Harbour and find parking. From the mainland, we recommend catching the 7.45 Flyer which takes 25 mins to travel across the Bay. Gold Cate Flyer timetable is available here

https://www.flyer.com.au/ or

https://www.sealink.com.au/north-stradbroke-island/

There is connecting bus which will meet each water taxi or flyer and the time tables are available here

https://www.stradbrokebus.com.au/

Check out the Straddie Arts Trail studios and workshops across the island.

https://iamstraddie.com.au

COME FOR THE WHOLE NATURE ART RETREAT October 22- 26

Find out more here https://events.humanitix.com/nature-art-retreat

Escape the everyday and find your creative spirit on a tranquil journey to North Stradbroke Island. Surrounded by the peaceful bushland, you'll spend four nights immersed in nature and art, sharing moments of joy with kindred spirits under the gaze of curious koalas and kangaroos. Late afternoons sunsets overlooking the bay and dolphin spotting, followed by fire side under the stars - is always a winner with our guests. This is your invitation to drop out of normal life, breathe in the fresh sea air, and reconnect with yourself through mindful art and the simple, profound beauty of the natural world here.

https://youtu.be/cUO2zoc-ybg?si=5BBqYd8pPGa2rrFZ

Contact the host of Beach Finds and the Art of Still Life