73 cm (w) x 53 cm (h), conté and pastels on acid-free coloured-ground ‘Canson’ paper.
Date produced: September 2003

Produced entirely on-site, in the Hallett Cove Conservation Park. A flock of mostly light coloured pigeons flies over the cliffs behind the Sugar-Loaf.

This is a view of part of ‘The Amphitheatre’ (a large semi-circular region of eroded clay and limestone cliffs and outcrops), which included the geological form called ‘The Sugar-Loaf’. The Sugar-Loaf is the whitish conical form on the right of the drawing, with reddish coloured rounded forms below it.

The whole scene was an interesting composition of ancient, naturally formed landforms. I applied ‘felt’ grids over all of the various landforms, to express their forms and orientation. I delicately applied an exaggerated form of aerial perspective to the colouring seen in front of me, to help express the structures observed using my excellent stereo vision. I applied pale blues around the forms to try to indicate/express the air that surrounded them.

I needed to return to the same place, at the same time of the day, during similar weather conditions more than a half a dozen times to develop this drawing to this state. It was not easy doing this, as I was working four days a week at the time, and could only get out to do this drawing on Fridays, and needed the weather to be just right. Whenever I did get to the Hallett Cove Conservation Park however, it was a real privilege - it is such an amazing and inspiring place to be at!