From the author: my love of Albert Namatjira’s work began when I was ten years old. I was sent to the headmaster’s office after throwing a cricket ball though a classroom window at school. While waiting in his office I was amazed by a colourful print hanging on the wall, it was by Albert Namatjira. After the headmaster arrived, we discussed the print and he knew I was genuinely fascinated with the image so rather than giving me the strap which was the punishment of the time, I was instructed to go to the library and read a book on Albert. This changed my life completely and several years later, in 1973 I went to Alice Springs on a school bus trip and found myself sitting in the dry Todd River with the Namatjira, Pannka and Inkamala children watching them paint in the Hermannsburg tradition. From all accounts and after talking to those who met the great man, Albert Namatjira was dignified and humble person, and in my opinion, he was the best water-colour artist the country has ever seen.

This book has many photos of Albert painting on location and illustrates over 450 of the artists’ works drawn from public and private collections. I have wanted to write and produce this book for many years but was originally stopped because of copyright issues. But now the Namatjira family have the copyright back and I would like to thank them and the Namatjira Legacy Trust for giving me permission. I would also like to thank everyone at Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre for the help they gave me to make this book possible and It was a great privilege to work with the Namatjira family. I would also like to mention that all the proceeds from this publication go to the Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre.