 |
'The ship parade Australia Day 2011 Darling Harbour'
oil painting on canvas 31 x 61cm unfinished plein air painting Enquiries about this painting |
By about 4 I'd started to move from the Endeavour jetty down to the pontoon in Darling Harbour. I had to make a couple of trips for my chair, table and easel, and it was still quite hot and humid.
I was worried that I'd flake out before the fireworks which weren't due to start until 9pm, but the lead up events were so exciting that they kept my energy levels up.
After some music, the Australian of the Year, Senior and Junior Australian of the Year, and the Local Hero were introduced with short but moving speeches.
Then the old heritage Pyrmont swing bridge was opened to allow the ship parade to sail through led by the 'Ted Noffs', usually berthed at Moore's Wharf, next to Barangaroo.
I was worried that I'd flake out before the fireworks which weren't due to start until 9pm, but the lead up events were so exciting that they kept my energy levels up.
After some music, the Australian of the Year, Senior and Junior Australian of the Year, and the Local Hero were introduced with short but moving speeches.
Then the old heritage Pyrmont swing bridge was opened to allow the ship parade to sail through led by the 'Ted Noffs', usually berthed at Moore's Wharf, next to Barangaroo.
This canvas shows the start of the spectacular ship parade.
Some spectators are on the right, and in the background is the brilliant red and yellow 'Ted Noffs' Emergency Response vessel of Sydney Ports Corporation.
This canvas got badly smudged during the long trek back, but enough remains of the initial impulse for me to be able to rescue it.
This canvas got badly smudged during the long trek back, but enough remains of the initial impulse for me to be able to rescue it.
 |
'Firetruck Barge Australia Day 2011 Darling Harbour ' oil painting on canvas 15 x 30cm Enquiries about this painting |
A great highlight of the ship parade was when the firemen on the barge sprayed the enthusiastic crowd with water from their hose.
The crowd loved it as it was still so hot.
As many areas can be more accessible by water than by road in an emergency, the people on the fire barges are the great unsung heroes of the emergency services.
 |
| 'The ship spectacular-Red Sails in the sunset- Australia Day 2011' oil painting on canvas 25 x 25cm unfinished plein air painting Enquiries |
As the firework barges began to fizz and crackle with sparks of light, graceful yachts, with their sails tinted every colour of the rainbow began to circle them.
 |
| 'Fireworks Barge Australia Day 2011 Darling Harbour' oil painting on canvas 10 x 10cm unfinished plein air painting Enquiries |
A quick impression- just a few blobs of colour smeared on with my fingers, as I'd dropped my brush in all the excitement.
The area where I had been working suddenly became open to the public. They were very well-behaved (I got quite a few compliments on my work) but I thought I'd better move so as not to get in the way while I was painting.
This tiny canvas got badly smudged but is still useful as a memory. I had to stuff it in the back pocket of my jeans to carry it back home- it was too small and kept falling out of my canvas carrier.
Helpful people kept picking it up for me during the long walk back after the festivities.
 |
| 'Fireworks Barge Australia Day 2011 Darling Harbour ' oil painting on panel 30 x 34cm Enquiries |
This plein air painting of one of the fireworks barges gives a much better idea of the beauty of the reflections of the light on the water.
 |
'Spectators- Fireworks -Australia Day 2011 Darling Harbour' oil painting on canvas 61 x 41cm unfinished plein air painting Enquiries |
The silhouettes of people looking up in wonder at the blaze of glory above.
They are emergency services workers and their families, the honoured guests of the day.
