Upcoming artistic events at the Cunnamulla River Lights Festival 2026

If you would like to be involved you can email comic_jo@outlook.com or text (don’t phone)

This River Lights Festival edition of my monthly newsletter, called Jo Creative Pursuites, is packed with information about the artistic aspects of the festival. Sign up if you would like to receive a copy of the newsletter on the first day of every month. My contribution to the festival this year is a three-day project, and you are invited to participate in a community mural.

I am the artist running the project, and in preparation, there will be a “cartoon” created so that participants know what to paint and where, with an ‘exemplar’, a section already painted, so that everyone knows exactly what to do. Do you want to be involved? The project starts on Friday night, when people come and view the exemplar. Then at 8.30 am on Saturday, 18th April 2026, we start! Come along anytime until 8.30 pm. You will be invited to and guided on how to paint. Sign up for the newsletter to keep informed of how the mural develops from inception until permanent installation on the fence of the Police Community Liaison Officers’ fence right around the corner from the Hot Springs. 

I look forward to working with you and to seeing the project through to completion.

Email or ring if you would like more information.

To buy a hard copy of the book, email me direct and I will send one for $25 plus postage. Email Jo @ Comic_jo@outlook.com or text (don’t ring) 0439535958 and leave a message. If you would like to pick up Pulped, the soft-cover books are available at the Cunnamulla Visitor Information Centre, located in Centenary Park on Jane Street. Cunnamulla. In July, the audiobook will be available from Audible.com, but until then, you can download into your Kindle from Amazon.com. If you would prefer other file types, go to Pulped at this address.

River Lights Festival Exhibition – 9th April 6pm

Are you coming to the Festival Exhibition? The opening is on Thursday, the 9th of April at 6 pm. It will remain on display for the month. There will be prizes, and you will be asked to vote for “The People’s Choice”.

Hospital which is a really attractive offering. Don’t forget to come along to see it.

Who is the book Pulped meant for?

The main character of this book is a 12-year-old boy called Willy. When he goes to juvie, he is young, vulnerable, and gullible; and he falls for the same old trap many young people do – the peer-pressure trap. Therefore, this book is suitable for young readers from 10 upwards. Some children go to juvie at the age of ten, and it seems a sensible recommendation to include children from this age.

However.

As Willy grows older, he becomes wiser and more astute, and his mentors begin to teach him how to navigate the world. So, the book is recommended for all youth because they will emerge from the story wiser and better equipped to think about the challenges young people face.

But wait!

Why am I recommending older people read it, too? The simple reason is that most of us have never really thought about what happens to kids when they are trundled off to juvenile detention. I passionately believe we should be thinking about the long-term consequences of incarcerating youth. If I say more, I might spoil the read!

Available on. https://amzn.asia/d/0ewNpy5V. Amazon as a download, but can be purchased here in Cunnamulla in a softcover format.

If you see me down on the block, ask about purchasing the book directly from me, or pick up a copy at the Cunnamulla Visitor Information Centre. Let’s face it, it is not often you can find a riveting read that the whole family can share.

I am working on several portraits at the moment. Because a few people have asked to see examples of my work, I thought I would create a page with only portraits to clear away the clutter.

The girls were happy to pose for this portrait. We had fun at the time.

So, below you see our friend Cheesy. This was painted for an exhibition back down the track. This artwork is influenced by the colours of Cunnamulla. It is also reflective of the earthiness of the surroundings. It is raw and straightforward.

This is a picture of Tice with the cat from next door called Mr Laite.

And this is a picture of my old friend Phoonoo. (Painted with permission from Margo, her sister.)

This is a picture of my niece. Family is important to me, and this one was painted on holiday in Sydney.

Believe it or not, I met Dadi Janki when she was in Australia. Her philosophy is important to me to this day. I painted this picture. I was experimenting with subtle texture.

This illustration was painted one day when Cheesy and Dan took us out to explain the Sandhills of Cunnamulla.

And here you can see me experimenting with reflections. Again, these are my nieces reflected in my glasses when on a trip in Sydney.

Here is Trent working out at RESQ+

Those were the days.

These portraits were painted on boards for the graduation passing out parade at our school. It was a lot of fun.

I’ll add a few more when I photograph them in the morning.