"Lake Life" on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

Although I have been home from Kati Thanda - Lake Eyre for several months, I'm still struggling to translate that amazing experience and memory into my visual work. These small scratchy drawings make a series that form a little concertina book ,"Lake Life" which is my first response. 

After the long wait for "Uluru - Ayres Rock  , [the first dual named place in the Northern Territory in 1993) to be recognised and widely used, I wonder how long it will take for us to start using dual name for Lake Eyre,  Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre which became the new name in 2013.
The lake was the fullest it has been for 40 years and the flocks of pelicans out there is truly amazing. How do they know to get themselves there when the water is boiling with fish. Only the pelicans were visible from the low flying plane but there are apparently many smaller birds out there enjoying the abundance of insects coming down with the water. The aerial view of the green channel country is indescribable. What an incredible change from the desert surroundings, so dry and lifeless!

My initial responses have been try to capture the changing nature and energy of the environment as a result of the rain. Other sources of inspiration include the incredible aerial views from the little aircraft and the patterns, colours and textures of the landscapes. The slow, shallow meandering water courses draining into the lake, is another area to explore, as is the dry, remote hostile environment. No shortage of material, just how to organise and process some of these sensations in a new, fresh way, is always the big challenge.