From the Blue Mountains to the Vatican: The Journey of a Painting

Every painting begins with a moment — a quiet connection between the artist and the world around them. A few months ago, on an early winter afternoon, I set up my easel on the edge of the escarpment overlooking one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks: the Three Sisters in Katoomba.
Painting en plein air — directly from life and on location — is a practice that I have always valued deeply. It allows me to respond to the ever-changing light, the movement of clouds, and the atmosphere that can never quite be captured from a photograph. The Blue Mountains that day were bathed in cool winter light; the air was crisp, and the rock formations glowed in subtle tones of ochre and violet as the sun drifted lower in the sky. I worked quickly, aiming to capture not only the physical scene but also the quiet grandeur and serenity that surrounded me.
What began as a simple study of light and form in nature soon took on a journey I could never have anticipated. A few weeks ago, this small plein air painting of the Three Sisters was purchased by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Australia) to be presented as a gift to His Holiness Pope Leo during a private audience at the Vatican.
The thought that a painting created in the peaceful stillness of the Australian bush would travel across the world and be offered as a gesture of goodwill and faith is profoundly humbling. It serves as a reminder that art can connect people across vast distances.
The Three Sisters themselves are steeped in stories — from the ancient Aboriginal legends that tell of their creation, to the millions of visitors who visit this region each year. In this case, they have become part of yet another story: one of art, nature, and humanity united through a simple act of giving.
As artists, we never fully know where our work will go or what meaning it might hold for others. This experience has reaffirmed for me that painting is not merely about producing an image but about creating something that carries a piece of our shared world — a bridge between the place it was born and the hearts it will eventually touch.