Great Outdoor Party Locations - Sydney

So it's that time of year again: your child is due a birthday party, yet you just can't face having it at home. What to do? There are so many great options for hosting a kids birthday party outside the home - either outsource it and pay somebody else to do all the hard work; or choose a great outdoor location to take your usual party supplies Sydney and a picnic rug: you'll be all set for a fantastic day out.

There are so many great locations for a kid's birthday party in the great outdoors within Sydney and its surrounds; Sydneysiders are almost spoilt for choice. There are two, however, which might easily be overlooked, but, provided the weather is cooperative, and you're willing to travel a little from home, are sure to guarantee a fabulous day out for all and something a little different from visiting your local or regional park...

Clontarf Beach and Reserve

Located on Sydney's North Shore in Middle Harbour, just 5 km from the Heads, Clontarf Beach and Reserve is a great location for a warm-weather outdoor gathering or party. Accessible by car or boat, this popular location includes amenities, a kiosk, and, perhaps best of all, a netted tidal pool. This pool provides a safe ocean swimming area which kids will love. There are BBQ facilities, car park plus street parking, an undercover playground area which caters to children aged two to twelve. Seats and tables are available, as well as two gazebo shelters with seating inside for up to sixteen persons. There is also an abundance of shade in the form of trees. Bookings must be made with Manly Council for large groups of more than thirty persons; this area is available until 10pm.

Cockatoo Island

This historic island right in the middle of Sydney Harbour will delight kids of all ages - in particular, adventurous boys! Easily reached by regular ferry service from Circular Quay, Greenwich, Woolwich, (and other piers), it is located at the junction of the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers. Water taxi or private barges are other transport options. A great place to take kids, who will thrill even at the ferry ride, there are so many pockets to explore and plenty of green space to run around and use up all their energy. They can discover convict prison history, World War II tunnels, shipbuilding machines; an organised program of activities is available, including the "Convict Clues Challenge" and the "Ship Shape Challenge", with instruction and activity booklets available at the Visitor Centre. Picnic spots, BBQ facilities, amenities and shelters make this a unique and exciting place to visit. You can even camp overnight (prior arrangement).

So why not gather up your picnic basket, source your usual party supplies Sydney - wide - and online is the easiest way to do so - and take your birthday boy or girl and a bunch of their friends for an outdoor adventure with a difference. No mess, no washing up, no need to clean your house - what more could you (or they) ask?

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Abstract Art Is Great for Beginners - Part 1

Give a child a box of paints and a paintbrush and something amazing will happen. Even if it is the first time they have painted you will see a picture of the world appear right before your eyes. there will be fantastic locations populated with people and animals depicted in unusual bright colors.

However, as an adult artist beginner, if you were to produce something similar you would feel shocked to see the result. It wouldn't matter if you hadn't been anywhere close to anything remotely resembling an easel or canvas, you would be left feeling disappointed.

"Why is that so?"

A child has little painting experience to fall back upon. And, as a newbie, you are unlikely to have a great deal of familiarity with the tools of art. In truth, if you are a beginner interested in representational art, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to create paintings that look convincingly realistic.

Surely this should come as no great surprise...

"Both the children and yourself share the same lack of art knowledge and painting and drawing skills"

Fortunately, this fact does not limit children from producing wonderful paintings. They do not worry, instead they just carry on regardless.

Similarly, understanding your lacks and deficiencies should not prevent you from producing your own works of magic. Rather than concentrating upon what you don't know and feel you cannot do, doesn't it make more sense to just do your best?

Here is what you share with kids...

"Imagination!"

Now, taking a slightly different view of your inadequacies, when you pick up a pencil to draw you could view the results as an impression of what you see. It might not be a perfect representation but it will show what you think and feel.

If your first attempt at painting looks similar to the watercolor shown here you don't have to feel irritated by your difficulties in making the colors do exactly what you want. Instead, you could just sit back and appreciate how incredible it is that simple color pigments mixed with water can combine together on the paper surface, often leaving far better results than if you managed to force your intentions.

If you have been left feeling frustrated by your drawing and painting efforts there is one question you might ask - "Is it abstract?"

You could view your drawings as abstract sketches preparing for something greater.Your pleasant abstract paintings might be viewed as preparations for ambitious future masterpieces.

Considering your artistic efforts as developments leading to, as yet unknown futures, may lead you towards your representational ambitions. Alternatively, you might realize that your expressive abilities are best suited to investigating and expanding the limits of your abstract art.

It could be that you have an exceptional imaginationPossibly you want to show your ideas as drawings and paintingsMaybe you are inspired by situations and events in the world around youIt might be possible that you want to show someone how you feel about them with a portrait

This is all great if your artistic talents are matched by your drawing and painting abilities.

But, what if you cannot paint and draw to the standards required?Does this mean you can't produce art that reflects what you feel and think?Or could it be that you can draw and paint abstract artwork of even greater value?

That is the reason why the offers below were produced to help you take maximum advantage of your own unique abilities, even if you don't know what they are yet.

Only you can tell and only you can show what you feel in your art as you learn to paint and draw - whether it is abstract or representational...

"What is stopping you from creating your own amazing art?"

Michael Dale is the author and publisher of 'The Simple And Easy Way To Learn How To Paint Watercolors '. See examples of Simple Watercolor Paintings and claim your FREE video 'Through The Eyes Of An Artist' & you'll receive the '4 Golden Rules of Art for a Beginner' delivered to your inbox.