RIVERSLEIGH LIMESTONE © john lovett 1999
mixed media on gesso board 42" x 32"

The Riversleigh paintings are the result of a recent trip to that area. Riversleigh is a large cattle station 200km NW of Mt. Isa near the Queensland - Northern Territory boarder close to the center of Australia. It is spectacular country - harsh, dry and stark, punctuated by weathered limestone ridges and occasional palm fringed billabongs. Riversleigh is one of the worlds most significant fossil fields. Embedded in many of the rocks you can see the fossilised remains of strange animals that wandered this area millions of years ago. It's an eerie feeling to climb to the top of these escarpments, look out over the vast plains, and think there were once giant emus, carnivorous kangaroos and marsupial lions inhabiting the area.