On our recent trip to the Central West NSW, I was amazed at the colour of the rocks. Over the Blue Mountains the escarpments are sandstone and that fabulous yellowy orange. Near the old mining town of Sofala and Hill End, the rocks become red-orange. My hubby who once was a geophysicist, tell me that 'them hills have gold'. Especially where rivers run through and the gold sediments are leached out of the rocks. I was also amazed that eucalyptus trees grow on virtually nothing, or else how does one explain trees clinging to rock cliffs? This painting attempts to depict the scenery on our drive, rock face in the most vivid colours, with sheer drops on the other side of the road.
Another spot with red escarpments is along the Turon River on Hill End Road, past Sofala. A camping spot exists on the river, the escarpment is wonderfully red. I would challenge the automatic snapper to capture this colour faithfully. Photos flatten the colours and sometimes the features too. But a painter has no such restriction!
