DESERT ARTISTS with Professor Liz Ashburn
Be nestled in the earth’s arms as you sleep under the stars...feel the connection to country…let it guide your artwork.
 Into the Blue Creative Walks is a walking company with a difference. They seek to walk in wilderness and not just through it, allowing opportunities to experience nature and the journey in a more profound and enjoyable way.
Their programs combine workshops that meld into the narrative of the journey, allowing the landscape and story of the country to be more fully felt. Take your passion and combine it with Into the Blue: and the results are usually extraordinary.
In July this year, Liz Ashburn will again be leading a group on the DESERT ARTIST Walk. Each season sees the program delve further into the drama, emotional story, tragedy and beauty that is the Central Australian story.
 Through participation in daily workshops lead by Liz Ashburn, your senses will be sharpened and your creative practice extended. On the trail you will experience stunning landscapes and opportunities for photographing and sketching will be provided to respond to these.
Work time in camp allows for the consolidation of these interpretations. Camps are located along the Larapinta Trail and on the land of the Arrente people. Your last night is in the old mission precinct of Hermansburg. Interaction with the Arrente people offers a unique view of their relationship to the land and to their art practice.
Liz Ashburn is a highly regarded teacher and artist who has forty years experience teaching experience. She has taught in the areas of drawing, sculpture, painting and photography. Her workshops combine traditional teaching techniques with alternative and stimulating approaches to art practice. Her teaching at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales was recognised by an award for teaching excellence and innovation and in 2007 she received the Order of Australia Medal for her service to the visual arts, contemporary Australian art, education and the community. She is an Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales and a Conjoint Professor at the University of Newcastle. Her work is exhibited in important regional and university galleries and has been collected by prestigious museums.
What to expect
 You will be carrying a simple day-pack and your drawing and camera equipment should be light and portable. A support vehicle will carry heavier equipment and materials such as canvas or drawing boards to campsites. Large tables are provided at each camp. If you would like to discuss art related questions you can contact the Liz at E.Ashburn @ unsw.edu.au. A visit to an art supply shop in Alice Springs will be arranged for the purchase of art materials such as fixitive spray, which cannot be transported by plane.
Fitness & Training
The walking component of the DESERT ARTISTS allows you to feel the landscape around you. Each day on the track involves between 2 and 5 hours walking. The adventure is graded easy/moderate, requiring a fair level of aerobic fitness. Please contact Into the Blue to discuss any fitness issues. You will carry a simple day pack that includes water, jacket, lunch, camera etc. It is possible to sit out any day if you would prefer to stay in camp or travel with the crew.
Camp Life
 Our nights under the stars will be a highlight of the trip. Whilst the facilities are basic there will be a pit toilet & washing facilities. Sleeping will be in comfortable mosquito proof bivvy bags. All camping gear is supplied. You will be expected to share some tasks around the camp such as rolling your sleeping bag etc.
Climate
Expect cool nights and warm, clear days. This is generally a magnificent time of the year in the Australian desert with everything that crawls soundly asleep and no or few flies.
Art Materials
If possible bring art materials that you are familiar with but include something that may be new to you such as coloured ink. You will need to think about ways to record your experiences while walking and how you might develop these in camp. Remember this country is extremely colourful and that you will need to be able to carry your materials over extremely rough tracks during the walking sections of the workshops. We travel in a bus to and from camp so you can bring more materials to develop your notes and sketches when we stay at camp.
For the walks
 You will need a sketchbook to fit in your backpack, and/or a camera, preferably digital so you can access your images on the walk.
Pencils and crayons or pastels. Charcoal can be messy and when you walk there is not always water to clean your hands.
For the camp
Large sheets of paper will be supplied as well as fixitive, scissors, glue and masking tape. If there is anything else you need but cannot bring on the plane email Liz.
Oils will be too slow to dry so bring water colours or water based paint. Brushes, a plastic water container with a lid.
Paints can be combined with your crayons, charcoal or pastels in various ways. If you have a query contact Liz at E.Ashburn @ unsw.edu.au.
Into the Blue Creative Walks welcomes your inquiries and look forward to walking with you.
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