I always enjoy my time in Emerald and it was great to make new connections at Emerald North State School and catch up with old friends whilst in town. I continued the tradition of completing a new piece at Emerald BMX. After Blackall and Barcaldine this Central Queensland trip was a brief yet productive one.
It was great to return to Barcy and once again I spent more time chin wagging than working! This time around I completed a shopfront mural for Beauty & Beyond and a school tuckshop.
Over many weeks in the studio and on location in outback Queensland I designed, painted and installed five large signs for the fabulous Acacia Motor Inn, Blackall.
It was great to colab with a few artists to freshen up the Moreton Bay Girl Guide hut at Wynnum. Thanks goes out to the Girl Guides who gave us the opportunity to return about 12 years after we completed the original project. I was with good company with experienced artists Rems, Kasino, Skonz and Kradl.
Over the past 18 years as principal artist at The Sauce Studio I have achieved many goals and endured my fair share of challenges. I thank you all for your support throughout my career. The time has come to make some changes, this year I am looking forward to taking things a little slower and handing the reins and responsibility of the business to my offsider. It is with excitement I can announce that Mac has completed training and will be managing all aspects of operations this year. The position will allow him to apply his artistic skills and further develop customer relationships along with all of the stuff that happens behind the scenes such as administration, ordering materials, equipment maintenance, tour scheduling and design development. As pictured below, Mac’s enthusiasm to help with the day to day tasks has shown he is a more than competent to manage all aspects of being a public artist and has even painted a couple of houses under my guidance.
I will be around in a limited capacity during this handover period to ensure a smooth transition and will be making the most of studio based projects whilst Mac is onsite. I am not sure how he will go answering the phone and doing the accounting, he’s kind of a lazybones in the office but can shred documents like a pro. He loves a good bin dive and working on any job wheres theres a lunchroom… come to think of it there was also regular occurrence of disappearing sandwiches from the work ute. Although unlicensed he’s happy to drive anywhere (especially the beach) and has a tendency to be distracted balls, sticks and anything remotely edible. It is time to pass the baton to the next generation of artist, Mac will be catering for all of your mural and art requirements.
Sauce
It was great to return to Gayndah State School and apply new work. I wish to thank the staff and students who made me feel welcome and asked a record breaking number of questions! I enjoyed revisiting the oldest school in Queensland and left inspired by some of the hand painted signage from decades past.
I had a quick visit to complete a small section of a group mural and deliver a painting for Mundubbera Regional Art Galleries 10 year celebrations. Since having an exhibition The Dark Ages last year I am excited to be a part of the group exhibition opening on January 26th.
I had a very productive and enjoyable time in Miriam Vale despite the inclement weather. Cosmic the magpie and the Super Kids featured in a number of murals reinforcing the school values. A big thanks to the staff and students at Miriam Vale State School who’s enthusiasm kept me going in wet and windy conditions.
No trip in Central Queensland is complete without a visit to Aramac. Known as “The Centre of the Universe” by some community members, I have had the idea for some time of creating this image, particularly since my first mural in Aramac was a galaxy inspired piece. I gave the town map a non-linear interpretation including items and attractions from surrounding areas arranged in the directions as you would see them standing directly in front of the wall. The other side was painted to serve as a backdrop for camp oven cooking which takes place regularly.
I also took on a couple of other commissions including a bedroom mural, a private bar area and a shipping container for Aramac Bowls Club.
