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PAINTING WALGETT IN SUNRISE SONGS, STORY BY CHRISTINE ONWARD 20

Welcome to a new series of outback stories promised to you a long time ago but repeatedly delayed due to my obstinate perfectionism (or procrastination,equally true). After a year of struggles and too high expectations from my side, I decided to let thoughts flow by freely and memories write by themselves in the way they want. I hope they eventually make sense to a point where I will be excited to tell the next episode and you will be eager to return and read it.

The journey I wanted to write (and paint) about took place a year ago in the outback Australia, more precisely in the northern part of NSW. It lasted 7 weeks and it was a blast!

For a person coming from the green pristine Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe, working in the bare fields of the far-far-away Australia was undoubtedly a challenge I was prepared to face. The huge emptiness of space, the scorching temperatures, the summer's dead bushes, and the desperation to survive of all living things had such a huge impact on who I was to become!

To honour the occasion, I decided to lay each meaningful experience of the outback in a painting. I wanted to add together the old me and my world as it was before back in Romania, the astonishing colours of Australia, its depth of landscapes, the victory of living- all in a series of paintings, celebrating me – the me I had become.

"Walgett-Sunrise Songs", painting by Christine Onward . More details Here

Walgett on the map, 650 km away from Sydney, right at the gate of the Australian outback

We arrived in Walgett late in the night. The drive to the town had been slow and challenging. 100 km on dirt road, the dark night around us, kangaroos jumping back and forth ahead of us, and a GPS with personality only made the trip seem to last forever.

We made it to Walgett after midnight. Streets were dark and quiet, not a single man passing by. Shops had iron grills at windows and lights were off. Even the motel entrance had iron gates, secured with a big lock for which we had to recall a long code and still debate the numbers an hour later in the dark.

Dinner was quite frugal: cold chips from an early breakfast at the petrol station, wrapped in an oily paper and tasting like old jelly, some cheese, too sour from the heat, and the usual beer, to help us fall asleep.

Baby Caesar spending the night with us in a NO DOGS room (who can swear he is a dog though, most of the times he behaves like a human) 

I slept that night in Walgett with the windows open to let the scents of the eucalyptus trees come inside. A bird kept shouting sad songs in the empty night, kept talking to me, and I let the sadness sink inside, because there was no escape, only the red road, over and over again until the end of my days...

THE SUNRISE SONGS

Photo taken close to Walgett - dirt road on the way to the property of Mungunya 

Morning; 5 o’clock rise. I can still feel the taste of eucalyptus essences on the lips and bird's sad song in the ears.  

Shirt on, boots on, cap on, insect repellent and a lot of sunscreen spread to whatever spot left uncovered. Bags back in the trunk, work instruments in the ute; time for one more long drive in the unknown.

I panic and I want to cry, as I always do when I think of unknown.

 “It's just an adventure, I say, and who doesn’t like adventures”…

And off we are, this yet ANOTHER day...

The flowing artesian waters of Mungunya

Right outside the town of Walgett I opened eyes on a big sun rising from the bushes. Few cows grazing quietly under a tree, doves’ songs coming to life from all around the bushes… and suddenly I feel I am part of it. I do belong. And there is nothing in the world that can take this moment away from me: the place where I first belonged.

Living the life of the outback: unspoiled beauty and endless reds

On the radio a song starts. I want to imagine it as a sign for me, and for everyone else who was welcoming the day in song of birds and golden rays of sunrise: Only a fool breaks his own heart…

The start of a new day with Walgett left behind

THE PAINTING

Naive art, painting by Christine Onward | Facebook | Instagram |. More details are Here.

I ripped through the bare red of the desert to let the magic of the moment come to life: the day when I BELONGED.

I added flowers in the empty trees of Walgett, and I added leaves with golden dots to shine happily in the sun.

The red dust, I turned it into lands of merry colours and joyful patterns, the way I knew them to be like back home in the Carpathian Mountains.

And all the sunrise songs and happiness of living, I gathered them together in this fantastic bird with golden feathers.

There is always a victory in us, we only need to find it.

After all… only a fool…   

MASTERS OF OUR DAYS - YVETTE BIEDERMANN. Realm of Happy Rocks 74

The Land of Living Rocks

- Welcome to Switzerland -

The life-like painted rocks by Yvette Biedermann | Facebook | Instagram | 

For this week's ROCK ART SNAPSHOT, I am really honoured and grateful to have obtained the consent to feature the wonderful work of outstanding artist Yvette Biedermann.

I've never looked at Yvette's work without admiration as I'm sure so have you. She has this extraordinary gift of painting animals as if they were real: smiling at you, watching you, talking to you, making you love them, and wish nothing but to hug them!

The techniques she masters so exquisitely, the warmth of her rocks' presence, as well as the quality of photographs that depict her art, made me rank Yvette among THE MOST TALENTED AND INFLUENTIAL rock artists of our times.

Inviting you to hug and love them: painted rocks by Yvette Biedermann | Facebook | Instagram | 

With the following selection I am only hoping to open a door for you; and through this door I am inviting you to take a step into the happy world where Yvette's cats, dogs, and owls come to life from mere rocks. Isn't that amazing!

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YVETTE'S WORLD OF HAPPY CATS

In case you thought there are no rock cats, you are mistaken! 

These cats - as photographed from reality as they may appear - have taken the artist years of practice and long hours of hard work to come to life. And if they smile at you like this, it is only because the artist has put her heart and soul to make that happen.

A world of happy cats: wonderful painted rocks by Yvette Biedermann | Facebook | Instagram |

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TRY NOT TO WANT TO HUG THEM

Yvette's painted dogs on rocks are not only wonderful depictions of shapes and colours. To my endless joy, the artist manages to capture in her paintings a large array of emotions too:

Try not want to hug them: wonderful painted rocks by Yvette Biedermann | Facebook | Instagram |

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STUNNING MESSENGERS OF GOOD NEWS

Out of all the rocks Yvette has so skillfully painted, I was also enchanted  by her painted owls. I was impressed by how they were depicted in delicate shapes and harmonious colours. I also loved the way Yvette displays them in these original wood stands, as if to add even more life to what she creates:

Art in delicate shapes and colours: painted rocks by Yvette Biedermann | Facebook | Instagram |

I hope you fell in love with every piece of art Yvette has created as much as I have since meeting her. It is artists like Yvette that INSPIRE US and help us grow. And for this we can only be grateful that they are in this world for us too. 

If you want to see more of Yvette creations, follow her on Facebook on Peinture sur galet - Happy rocks - or Instagram @yvette.happyocks

Sweet kitten: most recent painted rock by Yvette Biedermann | Facebook | Instagram |

This is an article written by Christine Onward with the consent of the artist.

*Each Wednesday an artist and their works of art will be selected and presented to you in a few lines and images. If you want to be the next artist featured on our blog, please drop a message on rock_street@yahoo.com.

Interview with artist Tünde Fodor, winner of the BLUE Rock Event and ROCK STREET ARTIST OF THE MONTH 80

Hello again my rock-art fellow artists,

The BLUE Rock Event has now ended and, I must say, it was an unexpected success! I am still in awe at how much your imagination, hard work and passion have added to the world of painted rocks! A big thank you to all artists of the RockStreet Collective platform for sharing your blue painted rocks with us, thank you for your encouragements and support for each other during this event, and for making the world a better place. You rock!

Also big round of applause for amazing artist Tünde Fodor whose wonderful rock won the popularity prize on Instagram! I am sure you will be charmed by her innocence, ingenuity and fantastic talent.

" I want my rocks to give people smiles and make them feel special"

 BLUE Rock Event winning creation by artist Tünde Fodor | Facebook | Instagram

Christine: First of all, congratulations for your amazing success on Instagram! So many beautiful rocks were featured on the RockStreet page but you were the most popular contender! Tell me how did you grow into creating such beautiful works of art?

Tünde: I've only started painting about one year ago. I never thought I would become a rock painter, although I did love drawing art in school and also painted on pebbles like any other kid. But at some point I had the chance to do a painting in oil at my mother-in-law's. I still remember what a calm, fulfilling moment it was... and this is when I fell in love with creating art!

Since that day, I never stopped painting. I started collecting rocks from the nearest lake. I was focusing more on shapes, regardless the rough surface of the rock. And kept on trying until it felt right.

Painted rocks by artist Tünde Fodor | Facebook | Instagram

Christine: What does painting on rocks mean to you?

Tünde: Painting on rocks is like a new love. I've always loved the colours of nature, the colours of the seasons, the colours of my clothes, make up, even the colours I associate with my moods. The colours I use in my paintings are just a new source of excitement in life. That's why I continue painting.

Amazing colours and designs on rocks by artist Tünde Fodor | Facebook | Instagram

Christine: What are the things you mostly like painting on rocks?

Tünde: Well...this is a never ending story for me. I never get bored of the things that I paint and I'm always full of fresh new ideas! I have so many things in mind that I would like to paint, so many media I would like to try working with, so many materials to use. Since I'm only new in rock painting, I feel it's never enough and there are still so many things I need to try and learn! Of all these, one thing I know for sure: I want to keep on painting, I want to make more time for my rock passion and see myself in ten years still doing this with the same pleasure I'm doing it now.

Painted rocks by artist Tünde Fodor | Facebook | Instagram

Christine: What is your biggest dream when it comes to rock painting?

Tünde: First of all, I want to see people satisfied with what I create. I want my rocks to give them smiles and make them feel special. Then I dream of selling my rocks at markets and one day who knows?, maybe have an exhibition of my own painted rocks!

Stunning art on rock by artist Tünde Fodor | Facebook | Instagram

I will end the interview here by thanking Tunde and all other artists for their contribution to the BLUE Rock Event in RockStreet Collective.

Next month's event will be dedicated to rock animals. If you think your rocks deserve to shine among other artists' works, do give them a chance to be featured on all our accounts including Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and this website. 

You are all invited to have a look at last month's winning artist, Lidia Zingerle. Her interview and amazing rocks are Here.

If you are interested in viewing our rocks for sale or purchasing one, have a look at our most recent collections Here

Interested in selling your painted rock artworks on this website? Contact me at: rock_street@yahoo.com and I am happy to explain to you how it works.

Choose a venue that relates to your own kind of art!