Up before dawn on a balmy Wednesday morning, I headed into the Park Lands with my friend and fellow artist to do some plein air painting.

I had my sturdy toolbox on wheels which doubled as a seat, portable easel and 4 supports to paint on.

Letting the Park Lands inspire us we planned to paint 4 works each and pick one of them for the Park Lands Art Prize.

We arrived at Botanic Park just before 6am and it was breathtakingly beautiful. There we each did 2 paintings in the early morning light then moved to the other side, Greenhill Road, Park 20, and in the heat of the morning light found a shady spot among the gums to paint, while the tree climbers squealed and laughed above us.

Acrylic on Clayboard 40 × 30 cm