Falling Upwards: Beauty Through Uncertainty
Falling Upwards III, 2025, oil on canvas, 122 × 91.5 cm
I am writing to share the story imbued in my latest painting, and to explain how the process and meaning are inextricably connected. The painting technique I used in Falling Upwards III is, itself, a metaphor for the life experience the work speaks about.
At first glance, you see clumps of reeds growing in a lagoon. The delicate spikes emerge from watery reflections of the sky. The unconventional composition means the image teeters at the edge of unreality, inviting you to dive into the azure sky and fluffy clouds reflected on the water. Your gaze travels along the arcing reeds and delves into deep shadows. The image evokes a feeling of weightlessness – a spatial indeterminacy in which you’re not quite sure which way is up.
My intention is that you feel drawn in, to explore the forms, textures and complex tapestry of marks. It’s one of those paintings that reveals itself over time – the longer you sit with it, the more you discover. As you hover between the real and the imagined, you experience a sense of intimacy – with Self, and with nature.
I have never made a painting that required more patience and persistence. For nearly two months, I worked with dogged deliberation towards a goal that I wasn’t even sure I’d attain.
To achieve the fine detail, I used a small square synthetic brush, loaded to one-third the length of the bristles. The forms emerged, one mark at a time, one line at a time… After each stroke, the brush needed reshaping and reloading. Each mark required perfect coordination, awareness of my breath, posture and the arc of my arm. Often, the location and direction of the line meant I worked with the painting upside down or on its side.
The mark-making seemed both repetitive and totally idiosyncratic. Paradoxically, I felt intimately connected to the formation of every single line, yet within minutes, it was subsumed into the whole, becoming part of the warp and weft of marks. Even the small inconsistencies could rapidly be assimilated into the picture’s composition.
This process reminded me of how, each day, momentary experiences and thoughts can feel compelling and absorbing in their apparent urgency, but with time, most quickly meld into the continuum of life, forgotten. It is the errant marks in a painting, and in life, the moments filled with pain, trauma and regret, that aren’t so easy to integrate into the whole.
As Falling Upwards III gradually took shape, stroke by stroke, I clung to the vision of what I was striving for. I was on an unfamiliar track, having never used this technique on this scale before. It felt a little crazy. My self-concept as an artist was being stretched, flexing to expand while simultaneously I made restrained, disciplined and precise marks on the canvas. I was pushing up against my own beliefs and values, challenging myself to face complexity and find solutions, travel through uncertainty to embrace change and trust my capacity to create beauty from chaos.
Happily, this arduous process came to an end. The concept that I’d held onto for months seemed to be realised on canvas, enabling both the technique and the subject matter to evoke life’s disorienting moments – those times that challenge us to adapt, reshape our ways of seeing, and discover new pathways forward. As the title of the painting suggests, sometimes falling can be upwards.
Capertee Plein Air Painting Retreats
4-Day Landscape Painting Workshops
17 to 20 April – Intermediate to Adv – ONLY 1 PLACE
20 to 23 and 27 to 30 March, 10 to 13 April – SOLD OUT
Painting + Yoga + Meditation + Bushwalking
About the Retreat
Join artist Corinne Loxton for a 4-day plein air painting retreat in the breathtaking Capertee Valley, just north of Lithgow and west of the Blue Mountains, NSW. Surrounded by dramatic sandstone cliffs, ridges, and wide open skies, this is the perfect setting to deepen your art practice or try landscape painting for the first time.
Following sold-out retreats in 2025, we’re excited to return in 2026! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter, these art retreats are designed to build your confidence and creativity in a relaxed, supportive, and beautiful environment.
How it works
Daily group tutorials in the studio or outdoors — demonstrations and instruction in skills and painting technique, including composition, colour, subject matter etc.
Plein air practice with personalised feedback and mentoring — choose your own subjects and formats.
Optional yoga, bushwalking, meditation and journalling to ground and support creative practice.
Flexible locations — painting sessions in the woolshed studio, outdoors around the property, and various places in the Capertee Valley.
What’s included in the Retreat?
Painting tutorials on techniques for plein air landscape painting
Comfortable facilities and beautiful views at our retreat base
2 Painting boards or canvases
Private feedback sessions and guided painting tuition with Corinne Loxton
Optional yoga, meditation, bushwalking, journaling
Delicious morning & afternoon teas each day
Mindfulness practices to support creative flow
Time to rest, connect with others, and recharge
Catered lunches from Saturday to Monday
Optional accommodation at peaceful Capertee Mountain View Artist Retreat with stunning views and access to nature, bird watching, and stargazing.
Build new friendships, in spectacular surroundings, as you disconnect from everyday life. This painting workshop is about more than just developing painting technique – it’s an opportunity to restore your energy, reconnect with nature, and rediscover your creative spark.
What you’ll gain
A dedicated time to paint in an energising, supportive and inspiring environment
Individualised guidance, skills and techniques you can apply immediately.
Clear next steps for your painting practice, with practical strategies for all aspects of picture-making including composition, colour harmony and brushwork.
Connection with other creatives and nature
What to Bring
Art Materials
Plein air painting materials – Please see a list for oil/acrylic and watercolour artists here. You may bring and work in multiple mediums - I encourage experimentation and exploration. This list is a guide, and not intended to be exhaustive.
Portable plein air painting easels – BYO or Corinne has several easels available for loan.
Art Kit Hire – $140
A limited number of oil or acrylic plein air painting kits are available to hire for $140. If you'd like to reserve one, please indicate this on your booking form. Corinne will confirm availability and send an invoice separately.
Each kit includes:
Oil or acrylic paints
Brushes and palette knives
Palette and solvent
Jar, paper towels/rags
Coloured and graphite pencils
Clips, apron, baby wipes
Viewfinder
Food
Breakfast supplies — bring your preferred items to start the day.
Snacks — optional extras if you’d like something in addition to those provided.
Dinner — Shared dinners are one of the highlights of our retreat — simple, relaxed, and a lovely way to unwind after painting each day.
If you’re travelling from afar, it’s perfectly fine to buy food in Rylstone or Kandos on your way through. If arriving by train and coach, please let us know and we can help arrange another way for you to contribute.
A few weeks before your retreat, everyone receives an email with a link to sign up for shared meals.
General Equipment
Bring whatever helps you feel comfortable and creative, including:
Sheets and towels (see notes to follow)
Yoga mat (some spares are available — just ask Corinne)
Journal, pen, and pencil
Walking shoes and a rain jacket
Hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
Small folding chair and table (email Corinne if you need to borrow these)
Warm clothing for cool evenings
Backpack and water bottle
Retreat Accommodation
Accommodation costs are not included in your painting retreat fee; however, comfortable, affordable, and character-filled accommodation is available onsite at Capertee Mountain View Artist Retreat.
You can stay in one of the charming vintage caravans (photos coming) or the 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom farm cottage. When completing your booking form, select your accommodation or contact Corinne directly at 0432 922 653 or via email to discuss your needs.
You’re welcome to stay in alternate accommodation nearby if you prefer.
Retreat Accommodation
Farmhouse
Queen Bed with ensuite — $100 per night
Queen Bed with shared bathroom — $90 per night
Double Bed, shared bathroom — $80 per night
Vintage Caravans — Paddock Views
(4 available: Greta, Lizzie, Camilla, and Poppy)
Each van includes a comfy Double Bed, private kitchenette, heating & cooling, outdoor seating, and access to shared bathrooms and communal living & kitchen facilities — $50 per night
Camping
Camping with your own campervan, caravan or tent, with access to shared bathrooms and communal kitchen facilities — $25 per night
Alternate accommodation is available in the surrounding Capertee Valley and Rylstone.
Retreat Meals & Shared Contributions
From Saturday to Monday, you’ll be treated to morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea, all provided with care. Please bring your breakfast supplies and any extra snacks you may want.
To help keep the retreat affordable and rooted in a spirit of community, we invite all participants to take part in light kitchen and farm tasks. This shared effort not only supports the retreat’s smooth running but also creates a sense of connection and collaboration.
Evenings are a highlight, with shared dinners prepared together in the communal kitchen. We’ll coordinate contributions via email in the two weeks leading up to the retreat– think favourite dishes, special ingredients, or even a bottle of wine to share!
This spirit of generosity, participation, and shared experience is a big part of what makes the retreat so special.
Retreat Fees
Standard Rate – $730
Applies to bookings or final payments made after 15 December 2025
Accompanying Partner
If your partner would like to accompany you at Capertee Mountain View Artist Retreat, they are very welcome to share your accommodation, join us at the fireside and soak up the beautiful surroundings. An additional accommodation/amenities fee of $150 is payable. Simply let us know on the booking form and a separate invoice will be sent.
Can You Bring Your Dog?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on retreat, provided they are respectful and supervised, are kept off furniture, and are friendly with other dogs. Approval must be requested in advance, please email Corinne.
How to Book
Pay your retreat fees of $730 now and select your preferred accommodation type in the booking form.
Corinne will invoice you separately via email for the accommodation, payable one month before the retreat.
Once your booking is received, we’ll confirm your place by sending a welcome email with all retreat details.
