Blackall

Braving 37 degree temps for much of the week is was great to be back in Blackall. This time I had the opportunity to work with Blackall Historical Woolscour which is home to the last working steam powered facility of its type. The woolscour has seen numerous of upgrades over summer and tour guides are gearing up for a busy tourist season ahead.

I enjoyed working with awesome locals, Ros and the team at the scour are driving fantastic projects to benefit the community and the visitor experience. During the painting process I  learnt a fair amount about local history and their knowledge of horse anatomy and wool transport was invaluable to ensuring accuracy. A big thanks to Blackall State School and St Josephs for their involvement in the art making process.

Featured in the image is George Gill (1884-1961) with horses and a local wool wagon. We also applied some of the original hand cut steel wool bale stencils which likely date back to the 1930s/40s.

Handmade tin stencils from as far back as 1930’s & 40’s

2023 Wrap Up

As the year comes to a close I wish to thank everyone who made it an epic one. I always enjoy splashing some paint around along with the opportunity to work with great people and see familiar faces. I kept busy in 2023 and took on a variety of commissions including a 9ft kangaroo, a ceiling, beer label designs, signs, a street library, sports club, tanks, hotel, campground, airport, toilet block, a couple of aged care facilities and fourteen schools!

With my trusty K9 sidekick/supervisor Mac we completed projects all across Queensland and beyond: Aramac, Blackall, Bundamba, Burringbar, Casino, Chinchilla, Coalstoun Lakes, Coraki, Daisy Hill, Flagstone, Guluguba, Harrisville, Jericho, Lennox Head, Miles, Mulgowie, Murwillumbah, Muttaburra, Ormeau, Oxenford, Peak Crossing, Regents Park, Roma, Shailer Park, Tallebudgera, Toowong, Waterford West and Windaroo Valley.

It’s been a top year at The Sauce Studio, thanks for being along for the journey. There are also a stack of exciting projects locked in for coming months so stay tuned.

Sauce

Chinchilla

On my travels to outback Queensland I take every opportunity to stop by Charley’s Creek Campground. I continued the murals at the camp kitchen area with more local flora and fauna. The feedback from all the fresh art has been incredible and I think Charley’s Creek takes the cake for the most murals in one vicinity.

The Brewery is almost underway and keen to maintain some momentum whist under construction Charleys Creek Brewery has released an American Pale Ale. The One In A Melon sour beer was a real hit winning a Gold Medal and I was chuffed the artwork (of a cow smashing a watermelon) turned out great.

For the second beer the Pale Ale label design was also an interesting brief. The concept revolved around a star bull called Golden Nuts and it all came together well, I am very satisfied with the artwork and so stoked to see my client wrapped.

I also painted a tree for The Blue Tree Project which is a great cause and looks great amongst the natural bush surrounds.

Peak Crossing

It was great to return to the traditional lands of the Mununjali, Wangerriburra and Ugarapul Peoples. For this project design options were developed and the school students picked the winner to be applied on a large wall at Peak Crossing State School. The winning concept entails of the iconic Peak Crossing landscape including Flinders Peak, Ivorys Rock and some local animals. I always enjoy the painting process, hearing the kookaburras laughing while I was painting their images was a joy. A big thanks to the P&C team for making this project come to fruition.

Muttaburra

It was great to be back in the Burra, Muttaburra the Centre of Queensland and home of the Muttaburrasaurus. This visit I worked with the local Rural Fire Service and applied a mural on their station roller door. The artwork turned out great and I just wish I could have stayed longer as theres plenty more public art in the pipeline so I’m very much looking forward to returning soon.

Blackall

It was great to be back in Blackall. This time I was kept busy painting local facilities prior to the upcoming Better In Blackall Festival. I took on a challenging design considering the rough bricks but really satisfied with the result and copious amounts of positive feedback offered from locals and travellers. It was made possible by the support of the RADF, Flying Arts Alliance, Blackall Tambo Regional Council and with the assistance of Lucy Ann Artistry and a bunch of locals.

Mulgowie

I was contacted by the Mulgowie Community Hall Committee to apply a mural on a new water tank. The brief was for the design to reflect the local surrounds, farming and arts & Culture. There was no shortage of inspiration as Mulgowie is situated amongst a scenic rural location in the Lockyer Valley and is host to many great events.

Chinchilla

Charleys Creek is such a fantastic place to camp on Barunggam land. I recently continued the murals at the camp kitchen and some signs

Jericho

It was great to return to scenic Iningai country and complete the artwork for the Jericho Street Library. I cant believe it was way back in 2012, I completed murals at the local school…time flies! Thanks to The Jericho Community Tourism Association for making this project possible.

2022 Wrap Up

It’s been a roller coaster of a year to say the least. After enduring 2 years of border closures, a pandemic, several floods, ongoing recovery from an arm injury my year commenced one team member down with my dog in emergency surgery. However with Mac on the mend I was able to get things going once the border opened…back in business and fully booked in no time! We completed 2 trips to Central Western Q, a solo exhibition and also visited FNQ, Central Highlands, Western Downs, Scenic Rim amongst a whole bunch of local projects in Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Tweed.

I took on a diverse range of projects at locations such as a hemp farm, an aged care facility, a campground, tuckshops, a library, a skateshop, two museums, a staircase, a cricket club, a restaurant, a shopping centre, a hot sauce shop and ten schools across Queensland.

I met several characters along the way and continued connections with friends afar. A big thanks to the following who made this year at The Sauce Studio a memorable one. I appreciate your support, opportunities, challenges and good times:

Southern Cross Hemp Nimbin, G-Spot Skate Murwillumbah, Oxenford State School, Alberton Hurricanes Cricket Club, Superior Care Wellington Point, Hilder Road State School The Gap, Aramac Race Club, Denison State School, Emerald North State School, Headspace Emerald, Alpha District Tourism, Australian Age of Dinosaur Museum Winton, Muttuburra Community Development, Highland Reserve State School, Aramac State School, Coomera Lodge Hotel, ChilliBOM South Tweed, Livingstone Christian College Ormeau, Bracken Ridge SS, Barcaldine Regional Council, Skytek Cairns, Charley’s Creek Chinchilla, Windaroo Valley SHS, Amberley District SS, 4275 Collective Canungra, Frankies Place Restaurant Shailer Park.

See you in 23!