The Night Heron's Pond - Gail Kellett

The Night Heron's Pond by SA artist Gail Kellett - Finalist in the 2024 Heysen Prize for Landscape. 

Living on Hindmarsh Island it’s great to see the River Murray’s water flow steadily down the lower lakes, Goolwa and the Coorong. Salt has been flushed and fresh water has come to wetlands and flood plains bringing back many species of wildlife, including different birds, especially the wading species. Thousands of cormorants fly over with flocks of pelicans, swans, egrets, grebes, herons and darters…my favourites are Nankeen Night Herons. This heron lives in a backwater pond surrounded by Melaleuca Lanceolata forest. I sat drawing in situ so that I could feel the solitude of the backwater. Each tree took ages to cut as I tried to show the rough texture of the bark. I used subdued natural colours to emphasise dusk appearing. It differs from other herons as it has a blackish blue cap, a rufous to brown back and wings, a white belly and distinctive green bill and yellow eyes.

Materials: Hand painted linocut print / No. 1 in edition of 20
Dimensions (cm): 100 H x 100 W

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