Yet another resident of the Northern Illawarra has done something wonderful.
Austinmer resident Jo Oliver has written and illustrated her fourth book, and will launch it at Clifton School of Arts later this month.
The Dreaming Tree is a children’s book, filled with poems about the joy and freedom of growing up in the Australian landscape. Jo says it deals with the simple, outdoor activities we can all relate to.
“The first poem is about a child finding a special place where they can go to be alone and dream, much like I did when I was a child,” says Jo.
Jo is a long-time visitor to the Northern Illawarra who made the sea change when her last child left school, and the family couldn’t happier.
Still working as a librarian, Jo is a printmaker, and uses these techniques in her books.
The Dreaming Tree is filled with solar plate etching, a technique that doesn’t call for all the heavy chemicals associated with traditional etching. The prints are then hand-coloured using watercolour, which Jo says makes for a great deal of tonality.
The Dreaming Tree will be launched with an exhibition at Clifton School of Arts on the weekend of March 19 and 20
from 11am-5pm. Everyone is welcome to pop in, have a chat and have a look at the beautiful art featured in the publication.
