Escape the everyday and find your creative spirit on a journey of tranquility 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.

Experience a sanctuary to reconnect with your creative potential. And enjoy the opportunity to share your unique voice with the world by being apart of the Straddie Arts Trail.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Learn the skills to create beautiful compositions, guided and inspired by Jo Fay Duncan and visiting artist-in-residence Maureen Hansen, on-location at island paradise North Stradbroke Island.

Experiment with drawing, painting and collage referencing the history of Art, covering the basic skills of observation and developing your own mark and your own artwork to be hung at Soul Lodge, part of the Straddie Arts Trail.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Women solo travellers are welcome here.

This retreat is for beginners and experienced artists. Everyone is welcome. But we especially welcome solo women travellers.

You may never have been to the island before, or come to the island regularly. Accommodation options available or if you have your own island residence, join just our art program.

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

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.

A range of art materials are provided at the studio gallery at Soul Lodge. We meet daily for tuition and workshops, on-location all a stones through from our central hub, Soul Lodge.

For four nights and five days, you will have an immersive experience of art making. You will have the opportunity to experiment with new media, and the guidance and inspiration of artist-in-residence, Maureen Hansen. Buffet lunch is included each day and the opportunity to hang your work in group exhibition, part of the Straddie Arts Trail, 2025.

Art exhibition opening and artists talk is on Sunday 10am - 12pm, and is open to visitors to the Straddie Arts Trail. Visit https://iamstraddie.com.au/ to find ou t more.

https://youtu.be/cUO2zoc-ybg

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.

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

BONUS Program;

Nature Art program only for those who have their own accommodation on the island Thursday October 23 - Saturday 25 $300
Waves, Water's Edge & Horizons, Friday workshop October 24, 10am - 12pm $50
Observation, Composition & Your Own Style, Thursday workshop October 23, 10am - 12pm $50
Beach Finds & The Art of Still Life, Saturday workshop October 25, 10am - 12pm $50
Artists Talk, Sunday 10am - 12pm FREE

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.

We provide a catered lunch each day. Breakfast and dinner is your time to explore other island cuisine or do it your self.

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.

Holiday house where our guests will be staying is a 15 minute walk from Soul Lodge venue for art making. If mobility is an issue for you, or if you would like to travel the island, we recommend you bring your car over and we can offer you a vehicle ferry travel discount code once you have booked

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.

HOW TO GET HERE

If travelling by car from Brisbane, allow an hour to Toondah Harbour, in Cleveland and 45 minutes by vehicle ferry to our island. Onto Soul Lodge at Amity Point is 20 minutes drive through lands care for and protected by National Parks and the Quandamooka Native Title Corporation.

By public transport, train will bring you from Brisbane to Cleveland and connecting bus to the water taxi which then takes 25 minutes to get to the island. Island bus service will meet you on the other side. Check bus timetables for services to Amity Point.

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/

By joining our Nature Art Retreat at this time you will also have the bonus opportunity to check in on the Straddie Arts Trail studios and workshops across the island.

https://iamstraddie.com.au

REVIEWS OF PREVIOUS EVENTS:

“It was truly transformative. The serene, nature-filled location provided the perfect backdrop for relaxation and creativity. Jo’s blend of knowledge in relation to both physical and spiritual well-being was incredible. Her passion and genuine care made the retreat unforgettable. I left feeling ... inspired. Highly recommend this retreat for anyone seeking self-discovery, healing and creative expression” Antonella Riverina, traveller and world citizen.

"Stradbroke Island is such a magical place. It was great to meet locals & share art making and the island magic." Regular island visitor.

All artwork pictured bove has happened at Soul Lodge and the imagery from Amity Point, Stradbroke Island. by Maureen Hansen. Photo of artist in her studio is by Ric Frearson. You can find out more about the artist Maureen Hansen, by visiting Wooloongabba Art Gallery online.

Visit www.jofayduncan.com/retreats to see more about accommodation and FAQS.

Contact the host of 5 Day Nature Art Retreat