Reunited at Flat Top Hill

21/8/2020 0 Comments

Reunited at Flat Top Hill

Reunited at Flat Top Hill captures the moment in my manuscript Reunited with the Millionaire when Mirabella and Lincoln hike to Flat Top Hill Lookout on Hamilton Island.

I have long since wished to create paintings related to my novels. At first, this wasn't what I had in mind for Reunited with the Millionaire, but I'm glad the idea came to me because I'm exceptionally proud of this painting.

About the Painting

I completed this painting to share with you all on what I called Awards Saturday - 22nd August 2020 - where the manuscript was a finalist in the Emerald Award and Valerie Parv Award with Romance Writers of Australia, and the Pacific Hearts Award with Romance Writers of New Zealand.

I used this image of Flat Top Hill Lookout off the Hamilton Island website as a model. On the right is an image I took myself on my research trip.

Mirabella and Lincoln hike to Flat Top Hill during their first morning on Hamilton Island, where they have a heart to heart and reconnect. Mirabella, an artist herself, also returns later in the book to sketch this view.

The lookout is located to the south and overlooks the resort in the middle of the island and the northern residential headland. The closer white tower is the Whitsunday Apartments and the yellow tower behind it is the Reef View Hotel. Catseye Bay is on the right and Hamilton Island Marina is located on the further side of the island. Across from the marina is Dent Island. The paler blue island on the horizon is the Australian coastline.

Techniques

I completed this painting without instruction or tutorial, working from far to near. After an evening spent sketching, I started on the sky, the ocean, then painted in the islands. The most difficult part was adding the final details and creating the foliage I wanted to capture. Then I painted in the buildings and the lookout last. I had a great time working on the rocks! Finally, Mirabella and Lincoln appeared, followed by their park bench. Shadows and final details completed this paining.

40x50 cm
Acrylic on canvas
Painted 17th-20th August 2020

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Author

Art is a new love of mine. I love creating vibrant, visual pieces of art to brighten up my - and other peoples! - home. While I've always loved being creative with words and dance, I've never been a visual artist. But now, I'm so excited to be exploring this new hobby.

In early 2019, I attended a social paint and sip night in Townsville called Wasted Paint where we are instructed through the basics of a painting. I loved going there, learning new techniques, and seeing the many different paintings that are created by the one prompt. By the end of 2019, I honed everything I'd learned to create paintings for my family for Christmas. Sadly, Wasted Paint was cancelled during the pandemic of 2020.

It wasn't until August 2020 when I picked up a paintbrush again. When my little dog Timmy was diagnosed as terminal and we knew his days were numbered, I decided to do a painting for my mum. It helped me deal with my grief by painting my childhood puppy Timmy at the rainbow bridge where my other childhood dog Dillon was waiting for him. During this, I rediscovered my love for painting and set myself a new goal - to paint Timmy.

That's when I joined Lauren Elizabeth Fine Art's online Animal Art Masterclass. Now, my goal is to paint animals. I also hope to build my skills in landscapes to capture images from my books. And that's the story so far!

So this is just a little blog where I share the paintings I've created.

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