My first visit to Lake Eppalock was just a few weeks ago. Strange as it is not that far from places I visit often. Lake Eppalock is a reservoir for the Campaspe region of Victoria. And just now, it is full, nearly to overflowing, and this is raising alarm bells for townships downstream who were not long ago devastated by floods. Some fellow visitors told me they had never seen the lake so full. Only a few years ago it was almost dry because of the prolonged drought, hard to believe as I looked across at the submerged fences, signs and trees, boggy paths and moss.

I was there for a few days over winter, and what a grey winter we have been having this year. The subtle greys and blues of the sky and lake, and nearby hills was totally beautiful, although I usually complain quite loudly about grey days. Clouds threatened rain as they rolled in and over the lake. There was no wind on one of the days so I took a chance and took out my kayak. I got totally drenched when some of those rain clouds didn’t roll on.

I made tiny drawings of the lake whilst I was there, and the plates when I got home. I painted over some of the prints, added collage, and printed over some small paintings I had made. Although the pages are quite abstract, they do capture something of the rain heavy skies, water filled lake, and floating around through the submerged trees and reeds.

Lake Eppalock, this book, is 10×10 cm, the plates 5×5; the cover is from a vintage kimono.