“Paluma Campsite”, 1986

James Brown

“Paluma Campsite”, 1986

Watercolour on heavy cold pressed (Arches) watercolour paper

Size: (sheet) 53.5 x 47.2 cm; (image borderline) 43 x 41.5 cm

In the mid-1980s, I created this watercolour of a tranquil bush scene during one of my many camping excursions with Isabelle and her late husband, John. Our “secret” campsite on the Paluma Range was about an hour and a half from our home in Townsville, nestled in the lush, tropical north of Australia. While the site was well-known as a popular tourist picnic area during the day, it transformed at night into our private sanctuary, devoid of sound and bathed in moonlight.

The Paluma Range is celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, dense rainforests, and diverse wildlife, making it an ideal setting for my artistic pursuits. Once the morning mist and fog cleared, I would wander off to find the perfect quiet nook where I could immerse myself in the serene surroundings and paint. My solitary companions were the occasional bush turkey and a few persistent mosquitoes, but these small distractions only added to the charm of the experience. I treasured those days in Paluma, where the landscape felt beautifully untamed and unexplored.

This watercolour was painted on location, capturing an authentic moment in time. As is my practice, I sought out a shaded area to work, as I prefer to paint from the shadows into the light. However, there is a unique challenge when painting from the shadows in cool mountain air: the temperature can shift rapidly as the sun moves, casting a spot of intense light within the shadows. In an instant, the crisp coolness of the shade can give way to burning heat and perspiration. This painting encapsulates that dramatic transition, exemplified by the burst of intense light in the middle ground and the warmth reflected on the surrounding trees.