
Mooloolaba Surf Lifesaving Club – four ways
What’s better than one #mooloolabasurfclub ? FOUR.






Pretty much anyone who’s been to a Shiny Happy Paint Along knows I love my dragonflies.
They add a little “somethin’ somethin'” to a flower painting and fill in simple backgrounds quite nicely.
They add movement and detail and sometimes a bit more colour.
And the best bit? YOU ONLY NEED FIVE LINES.
Watch the video and download the practice sheet to have a go yourself. 🙂
In my other life I’m the marketing manager at a wonderful high school here in Toowoomba, Downlands College.
A Missionaries of the Sacred Heart College, we are regularly offered retreat days, and just before Easter all staff (teachers, admin, cleaning, cooking, grounds and maintenance… everyone!) participated in a ‘mind, spirit, body’ themed day. I was asked to run a collaborative painting workshop throughout the day, so I was in my happy place.
I ran it in three sessions and each group grew in numbers as people saw what was happening and wanted to be a part of it.
Downlands College sent me and my colleague, photographer Catherine Mims, out to Charleville, Quilpie, Cunnamulla and Wyandra in late March, to run a series of collaborative group paintings with each community.
Every session started off in a similar way, but the end results were all very different – and totally wonderful!
And while we were painting, I learned about the districts and we talked about all the educational options available to people in the bush. It’s been a terrific way to promote the College in a genuine way and I have to thank Deirdre Williams, Downlands parent and Wyandra local, for organising and accompanying us on the trip! Deirdre is now a dear friend and the dinner she hosted for us in her home on the last Thursday night was just wonderful.
I’ll also be keeping in touch with Charleville artist, Donna Reynolds, with a view to her visiting the Shiny Happy Art studio and running a class or two! Believe me, it’s something to look forward to.
A couple of weekends ago I got to paint a mural (at Kate’s Place childcare centre, Middle Ridge) and documented the process – after 10 hours of painting I swear these old bones were creaking, but oh, what a wonderful way to spend the day!