That flight from London to Melbourne was certainly a long one, but landing in gloomy weather only amplified how much we were missing our cat, Kitty. The biggest difference this time? We didn't have a return ticket booked! Having no end date meant we could really allow ourselves to settle into Australian life at the slow pace we needed. Thankfully, Noosa was the perfect escape, promising sunshine, warmth, and a whole lot of family time.

Luckily, Noosa greeted us with open arms, gorgeous sunshine, and warm weather! My folks picked us up from the airport, and soon we were back at their place. We got the grand tour, and my dad proudly showed me all the artwork he'd done.

Like me, he's a self-taught artist. Before I was even born, he used to draw local churches and houses in Hobart just for fun - he even got paid for a commission once! Sadly, having four kids and running a business full-time meant his drawing supplies collected dust for years. Seeing his fantastic paintings hung up on the walls filled me with such immense pride.

The house was already furnished when they bought it, right down to the canvases hanging in the bedrooms. The previous owner had left behind some... interesting abstract pieces. So, Dad decided to simply paint over them and have a bit of a play himself.

A Father's Day Painting Session

The day before Father's Day, Dad had a brilliant idea. He set up the garage for a spontaneous painting session! He taped two canvases to the trailer, laid out the brushes and paints on an A-frame ladder, and pointed to the biggest one. "This large square canvas is for you. Do you think you can handle a size this big?" Excited by the challenge, I instantly said, "Yes!"

While Dad was adding the finishing touches to his country landscape, I started sanding the acrylic paint off my massive canvas. It was thick and bulky, so it took over an hour of hard work until my arms ached and I finally needed a break.

I went over to see what Dad was doing. He was struggling to get the right look for some tall grasses. I showed him how to use a palette knife to create fine lines, and he had a go. He seemed impressed by the technique but wasn't keen on the raised paint effect, so he wiped it off. No worries - I suggested he try a dry brush technique instead, using no water. He loved that!

I was finally ready to paint myself. I looked around and spotted some cream-coloured, water-based exterior house paint. "BINGO!" I said. I asked Dad if I could use it, and he happily agreed. I'd never used house paint on an art canvas before, but I knew it would be perfect for covering the dark layer underneath, and it was a great free alternative to gesso. I grabbed the biggest brush I could find and got started. This was the moment I'd been dreaming of: PAINTING with my Dad!

Finding Inspiration

While my undercoat paint was drying, my mind went completely blank, so I reached out to my Instagram followers for ideas. That week, though, I'd rediscovered the magic of photography and the simple act of noticing small details, which had me completely obsessed with the abstract shadows, shapes, and reflections of the water. I loved the idea of bringing that outdoor tranquility inside, so I gave my followers the option of an abstract piece inspired by the pool. Sure enough, that was the one that made the shortlist, so I decided to run with it! (second image below).

As the sun went down and the midges started nibbling, we decided to call it a day. Dad had finished his painting - it looked amazing! He was chuffed with it and immediately hung it in the hallway. (see rustic farm shed landscape above)

The next day was Father's Day (Sunday, September 7th)—a day I hadn't been home to celebrate in 17 years! We skipped painting and just hung out, chatting about all our European holidays. It was perfect.

Bringing the Abstract to Life

Monday morning was glorious and sunny. After a day off to decide (and check the final poll results!), I was itching to get started. I began by mapping out the shadows and light patches of the water onto the canvas. I painted in the lightest areas with white, but quickly ran into my first hurdle: how do I make it look like the photo and a painting?

Feeling stuck, I moved the canvas outside onto the patio, next to the pool for better light. I mixed up a turquoise-y mid-tone and just started painting, covering the whole canvas except for a small bottom triangle, which I left to represent the side of the pool—a little anchor to keep the abstract piece grounded. I added a darker shade to the top, but after taking a step back, I decided it needed some actual palm shapes for interest. I traced a palm branch in white pencil, but by the time I finished, it was dark, and I was exhausted.

The next morning, with fresh eyes, I decided to go in a completely different direction. Instead of trying to literally paint the shadows, I started with curved, bold brushstrokes, going from dark at the top to lightest at the bottom. The ambiguity of the pool reflections was what I loved anyway, and it felt much more "me" to experiment like this.

I wasn't happy with the size of my brush strokes, so I headed out to grab some supplies—including a staple gun—to create a wide brush like the ones I used to love in London. Back at the house, I stapled cardboard around the body of a few brushes to make one big, wide tool. I started again, this time with wider, more fluid, textural, and expressive strokes. It was so much fun! I just let go and remembered that sometimes you just have to make "bad art" to get to the good stuff.

Over the next few days, I worked on it here and there, making minor adjustments to the tones. That big brush was the ticket to feeling completely free. To create a textural, sandy-colored edge for the pool triangle, I mixed some coffee grounds into gesso paint. It was a perfect, if slightly thick, mix. It needed a few days to fully dry, so I took a break to rest and enjoy more time with my family.

Finishing Touches and the Next Chapter

Three weeks flew by, and suddenly, my time in Noosa was winding down. I rushed to finish the painting, applying my signature neon pink to the sides. But when I hung it up? The colour was all wrong! I had to take it down and paint over the pink with multiple layers of gesso, which added a couple more days to the process.

In between those final artistic touches and enjoying family time, I was also busy searching for a job. With an interview locked in, our stay in Noosa was truly coming to an end. It was time for a bittersweet goodbye to my parents; our next steps were a quick transition through Melbourne to see friends, then finally on to Tassie to officially start settling into our new lives.

This trip to Noosa was so much more than a holiday—it was the perfect launchpad for our new life, filled with sunshine, renewed creativity, and invaluable time with family. It proved that sometimes, the greatest inspiration comes from simply slowing down and letting the details, like the shimmering reflections in a pool, guide you. Finding that creative spark again, and especially sharing a paint palette with my dad, made all the long travel days instantly worthwhile.

And the best part? The interview I mentioned was a success—I got the job! Plus, Dad loves the finished abstract pool painting; he says that even on hot days, he can look at it and feel cool.

Here is the final piece! (click to enlarge).

Now, with my Noosa abstract finished and my new role secured, we're fully focused on settling into our new life here in Tasmania. The next chapter involves the truly fun stuff: house hunting, finding a car, and settling into our new normal. The feeling of finally taking this big step has been a long time coming (2 years in the making) and now that we're here in Tassie for spring, everything feels both daunting and very exciting at the same time.

It was so wonderful having you along for our Noosa adventure!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my long, rambling account - it means the world to me. I can’t wait to share more as we continue our journey here in Tassie!

Until next time,

Warmly,

Claire Cain xo

Need a Holiday? Let Noosa Inspire You!

I realised that if anyone needs inspiration for their next holiday, they have to visit Noosa and the surrounding hinterland! It truly has so much to offer. We loved browsing the fabulous Eumundi Markets, having lunch at the historic Kin Kin Hotel, whale and dolphin watching and soaking up the tranquility of the Noosa Botanical Gardens. Plus, the 6 am swimming is a dream - the water is so warm! Top it all off with the amazing selection of restaurants and cafes, and you have the perfect getaway.