Painting No. 51 – Title “Valley of a Thousand Hills” June 2010/March 2011
Acrylic on Canvas
220cms Length x 120cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: It was in June 2010 that my daughter, my husband and I decided to travel up through the Strath Creek region of Victoria (Australia) for a fishing day – my husband loved fishing. This was the first time we had all gone fishing together since the death of our son Ben on 5th November, 2009. Ben, our 25 year old son was killed instantly in a single vehicle car crash. As a family, our lives had been shattered by his loss. It was the first time, since Ben’s death that we found the courage to go off and do something like fishing. We went with mixed feelings and an emotional struggle, in getting truly interested in what we were doing. But it was easy to see that it was a day of reflection, for the three of us.
It was a beautiful, fine winter day! The air was crisp and clean. The area was green and the trees were in Autumn mode. As we drove through the region, my spirits were up lifted by the beauty of the area. My daughter and husband organised themselves to fish and I went about taken photos which I liked to do. I could see by the look on my daughter’s face that she was quietly reflecting. My husband was off in another direction also deep in thought. It was clear, we were all thinking about our Ben whilst amongst Australia’s beautiful bushland. I came away that day with my spirits lifted and a step closer to being able to live without our son in our lives. The quietness and solitude of the day shared with my loved ones, amongst the stunning beauty and tranquillity of the area named “Valley of a Thousand Hills” Strath Creek region (Victoria, Australia) was all we needed to feel at peace. Even if just for the day. Hence this became my inspiration for this painting called “Valley of a Thousand Hills”.
Featured in the painting is a large English Elm Tree. Whilst driving through this area, we came across a property named “Kerrisdale Station” 852 King Parrot Road, Strath Creek. The entrance had these magnificent, large English Elms lining the driveway down through to the homestead. Their strong, dark trunks and branches held a display of beautiful lemon, yellow and pale green autumn leaves. Another Station in the region called “Strathglen” had Lipstick Maple Trees lined either side of a long road, stretched into the distant hills. These trees had a single, slender trunk with branches like arms reaching up into the bright, blue sky. They were dressed with pretty pinks, golden yellows, amber, orange and deep auburn leaves. These trees, which would have been planted by early settlers were a strange contrast within our Australia bush. But so beautiful within this magical setting of the Strath Creek region!
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
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