Canberra Balloon Spectacular at First Light

I painted this after one of those magical Canberra Balloon Spectacular mornings when Lake Burley Griffin becomes a theatre of colour, light and movement. Hot air balloons hover low over the water above kayakers and paddleboarders, while Black Mountain and Telstra Tower rise quietly in the background.

What interested me most was the contrast between the cool blue dawn and the warm glow of the balloons reflected across the lake. Inspired by Canberra’s March Balloon Spectacular, the scene captures that distinctly local moment when the balloons come so low their ropes skim the water beside the paddlers and the whole lake comes alive at first light.

This is a one-of-a-kind original 65 x 65 cm painting created with professional acrylic paint on thick edge canvas. Painted in a modern impressionist style, it uses expressive brushwork and layered colour to convey movement, atmosphere and a strong sense of place.

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Hi, I’m Valentyna Crane — a contemporary impressionist landscape painter based in Canberra. I paint the feeling of a place: changing light, shifting atmosphere, and that sense of moving air that makes a landscape come alive.

My art journey began in Crimea, Ukraine, where I trained at the Samokish College of Fine Arts, and later completed a Master’s degree in Architecture and Landscape Design at V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University. Even earlier, my foundation was shaped by formal training at the Fine Arts School for children in Simferopol, where I studied drawing, composition, sculpture, decorative arts, and traditional painting techniques.

That classical background still supports my work today — strong structure and confident draftsmanship — but I paint with freedom: vibrant colour, luminous light, and expressive brushstrokes. My influences stretch from the Russian masters (like Repin) to the colour and light of Cézanne and Monet.

Now in Australia, I’m endlessly inspired by Canberra’s crisp air, open skies, and bush textures. I love creating paintings that feel uplifting and alive — pieces you’ll keep noticing and enjoying as you live with them.

My purpose is simple: to bring more light and beauty into the world, and to share that feeling with the people who connect with my work. If you have any questions, or you’d like to discuss a commission, I’d love to hear from you.