No.19 – Uluru / Ayers Rock, Australia

Uluru / Ayers Rock - Illustration by Jonathan Chapman

Uluru also known as Ayers Rock is a large sandstone rock formation in the Northern Territory in central Australia. It lies 208 miles south west of Alice Springs. One of Australia’s most recognisable natural landmarks, the inselberg (an isolated hill that rises abruptly and is surrounded by flat arid lowlands) stands 348 m high, rising 2,831 ft above sea level with a total circumference of nearly 6 miles. It is perhaps most notable for appearing to change colour at different times of the day and year, most notably when it glows red at dawn and sunset.

Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and along with the Kata Tjuta (also known as the Olgas) are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

This is my slightly abstract illustration of the magnificent Ayers rock. The scale of the formation is almost impossible to describe in a picture like this but i’m always keen to try! Here i’ve used a blood orange palette against the pale blue skies. I could imagine painting this one a hundred times and still find new colours in each attempt. It’s a magnificent and truly wild contrast to my earlier Australian scene, the modern cityscape of Sydney.

You can follow along with my world series here on the studio blogfacebooktwitter or instagram.

Next up: No.20 – The Rocky Mountains, Canada.

Where would you send an artist to be inspired? What location should I paint next? leave me a suggestion or comment here!

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