Chris Osborne Art 
Bunker Walk 3.4km
The Story Behind the Painting
RAAF Kowguran was the main explosive store on the Brisbane Line, Holding at times 2500 tons of bombs and ammunitions. Today it has been renamed and turned into a caravan and camping ground called Possum Park, 20km outside Miles, Queensland. Once you stay at the park you can access the old road now called the Bunker Walk, a 3.4km walk around 20 bunkers. 4 have been turned into accommodation, you can stay in 3 of them and the other one is Julie and David home and office.
A few months ago I was walking just past the 2.5km sign and came across a lace monitor sunning itself on the road. I walked up to it slowly and was able to get a few photos before it run off. So I combined the start of the bunker walk and the lizard to make the bunker walk 3.4km painting.
My Painting Process
This is my second painting in the Possum Park collection.
I used a light wash of sky blue gouache and wasn’t too bothered how far down the paper it came because of the mass of trees I was going to paint.
The sky looks a little dirty and thats because the water has soaked into the paper and buckled it slightly, what you’re seeing is a shadow across the paper making it look a little dirty.
I used a light sienna wash as the base for the gravel road and a few other browns mixed in.
Next I just wanted a very rough idea where all the trees would fit into the background. Making sure I didn’t go to heavy or dark on the leaves, I always leave plenty of sky and paint the finer leaves later on.
Next I added a little bit of masking fluid onto the lizard and the bunker marker, also I used some scrap paper to block the trees and grass out. This just stops paint going where it’s not wanted.
Here you can see me using my small stippling brush to flick paint to create fine stones on the ground. I think I used about 4 different browns and white for the stones.
Using a slightly wet brush I added some tree shadows on the ground, then I removed the masking fluid from the lizard and bunker walk marker.
Now time to get stuck into all the trees, I use different strengths of black as they are dark trees and a few white gum trees mixed in.
I usually use about 3 different greens for the leaves and yellow and white for highlights.
The bunker stone is very black and white because I had just painted it and placed it into position. It is now looking a little more weathered as red dirt has splashed back around the base of the marker.
The stop no unauthorised vehicles sign was way too small to paint the last two words so I only managed STOP NO. Sometimes I just don’t think how small things will workout being, but I gave it my best shot and my finest brush.
After this I added the dry grass on the left hand side, painting first white then green and Naples yellow over top.
The very last thing I painted was the lizard, this I used my finest 20/0 brushe, and it was basically made up of dots.
After I was happy with the lizard I double checked the painting and added a few more stones, shadows and tree leaves.
Possum Park Gifts
As you can see below my Bunker Walk 3.4km artwork has been turned into a postcard and coffee mug for Possum Park, and possibly greeting cards later in the year. Yellow Handle to match the sign, lizards tail and tree highlights.
Gouache and Watercolour Paper
I use Winsor & Newton Gouache on Arches France Watercolour Paper, 300g Cold Pressed.
My painting come from my own experiences that I have experienced and photographed while traveling. By reading this blog, you as a viewer can now hear The Story Behind the Painting. Where, when, what was happening while I was photographing the wildlife.
If you want more details about my adventures checkout my travel blog website www.ChrisOsborneAdventures.wordpress.com
Enjoy, Chris Osborne
Chris Osborne Art 