Start at Home No. 93 - Tom Roberts

Sunset in Motion

Tom Roberts was one of Australia’s most important artists in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was a leader of the Australian Impressionists, a group of painters who often worked en plein air (outside) to show the unique light, heat, and open spaces of Australia. Roberts is best known for his paintings of life in the countryside and sheep farming, but he was also very skilled at painting portraits of people.

In 1891, Tom Roberts painted A Break Away! during a drought in the Riverina, NSW. It shows thirsty sheep racing to water, while a stockman tries to stop them from getting hurt. Roberts didn’t see this exact scene – he made it from different sketches and ideas. He loved showing movement and like in photos, made the animals look fast by setting them against a still background. The painting shows how tough life was for workers on the land and for early settlers. It also makes us think about both the pride in farming and its effects on the land over time.

Question

If you could step into one of Tom Roberts’ paintings, what sounds and smells would you notice?

  • Tom loved painting the Australian bush so much, he sometimes carried all his art gear out into the paddocks and painted right there in the dust and heat! en plein air (outside).
  • Tom wanted to tell the story of everyday Australian life in the country, real people doing real rural hard work like drovers and shearers.

Draw a sunset in motion

Tom Roberts loved painting outdoors during the golden hour—the magical time before sunset when everything glows with warm colours.

  1. Choose an active place to draw outside, a garden trampoline, a swing, a skate park or a playground.
  2. In the late afternoon, set up comfortably with your cardboard, paper, and colouring pencils. Chalk pastels can be used if you have them.
  3. Begin with the lightest colours, like yellow, to capture the glow.
  4. Layer in oranges, browns, and earthy greens to add detail, tone, and texture.
  5. Draw a person or people in motion—scribbles or blurry lines can show movement.
  6. Finish with the vast Australian sky in soft blues to contrast the warm foreground.

Take it further

Take photos during golden hour to use as references for future drawings and notice how light and colours change over time.

  • Cardboard (to lean on)
  • Paper
  • Colouring pencils (yellow, orange, brown, pink, earthy greens, light blues)
  • Chalk pastels (optional)
  • Pencil sharpener