norfolk island tourism – Communicating Creatively

I Love This Watercolour Paper!

28/04/2024 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Recently, I purchased some Baohong The Master’s Choice, Artist Quality Watercolour paper and I must say it continues to impress me. It is 300gsm, 100% Cotton, Rough Block paper.

I love the texture and how well it takes water and paint. The Lighters above are what Norfolk Island used to use to put cargo on from visiting ships. There are a few dotted around Kingston, Norfolk Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

28 April 2024

Long Since Retired

27/11/2023 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

Lone Pine

03/05/2023 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Haiku Poetry

A Monument To Memories

13/02/202312/02/2023 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

Silent Moments

18/06/202211/06/2022 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

Bumboras Beach – Norfolk Island

06/06/202204/06/2022 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

In February this year, Susan and I visited Norfolk Island for the 3rd time, this time to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

The first 2 times we went there (1997 & 2007), I was deeply entrenched in Photography. Whilst I took photos again on my DSLR, I also took a lot of reference photos on with my phone camera for when I returned.

The image below is one such image.

On Saturday last, I chose this image as my reference photo for Day 1,220 of a Watercolour Sketch a Day.

In 3 visits to Norfolk Island, this was our first visit to this popular picnic spot. The island in the distance is Phillip Island.

Materials used:

Moleskine 200gsm Sketchbook
Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.05
Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Paint
Neef Watercolour brushes

I think I am getting better with my sketching/painting of rocks/boulders and am happier with the bottom half of the image than the top half.

I will have another attempt at this on a small scale and then would will aim to do an A4 size.

If you are ever on Norfolk Island, don’t wait until your 3rd visit to visit this beautiful spot.

Till next time!

David Johnson

6 June 2022

Promises

15/05/202214/05/2022 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

History Is Revived

28/04/202228/04/2022 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

On This Island…

24/04/202223/04/2022 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry

A Norfolk Island “Lighter”

23/04/2022 by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

Well, the first question you might ask is…’What is a Lighter?’

A Lighter is a ‘shallow-draft boat or barge, usually flat-bottomed, used in unloading (lightening) or loading ships offshore’. Source: Brittanica.com

Norfolk Island has no harbour and the closest cargo ships can moor to it is about 1 kilometre (0.62 miles)

The cargo is lifted onto the Lighters and then the Lighters transport the goods to Kingston Pier. A further challenge is that, even at high tide, the water is only 1 metre (3.2 feet) deep so a high degree of seamanship is required.

We were fortunate even to see this careful practice take place in our second visit to Norfolk Island back in 2007.

I find the Lighters to be a fascinating subject, particularly the ones that are no longer in service. There are 3 at Kingston, placed on land to add to the character of an already stunningly beautiful area. Oh, the stories I bet they could tell!

For me, they are one of my favourite subjects on Norfolk Island and have inspired me in terms of photography, sketching, painting and poetry.

Here are few examples: