Chinchilla

No AI, projectors or doodle grids. Just like the craft beer @Charleys Creek Brewery there’s an authenticity to the sign painting. From concept to completion the best things are created by human hands and small family business.

Barcaldine

It was a pleasure to work with Barcaldine Regional Council and Barcaldine State School again. Escaping consistent precipitation on the coast, the weather was fantastic for painting in Outback Queensland. I enjoyed catching up with a bunch of great folk whilst in town and keeping productive on the brushes. The Sand Goanna was definitely a winner being the local champion Rugby League team.

Chinchilla

Over some seriously hot days this summer I visited Charleys Creek Brewery to complete some more art. I worked some magic on the tap trailer, finished two of the ammenities blocks and also took on a stage backdrop. I thoroughly enjoyed getting back on the brushes and what better location than a shady spot by the creek in Chinchilla.

The stage mural was set to a reasonable undertaking especially to paint on the fly. I prefer to have a plan or concept to work from so after discussing a couple of approaches with the owners I sat down and sketched a rough draft on the spot…literally as the final wall panels were being installed! It’s a special thing to maintain balance between the challenge of commercial work (the ability to suit a brief) whilst playing to my strengths as a painter. Its also great to work with businesses who make things happen, no mucking around and meetings to decide the next meeting.

Winton

After enjoying my time in Longreach and in awe of the abundant wildlife I headed to Winton. I have completed an array of commissions, youth and community projects over the years. This time around I was slightly unsure of the scope of potential works however an enthusiastic client assured me half the town will be lining up for new signs and this had been somewhat verified by numerous enquiries whilst on tour.

Having admired many of Bill O’Briens local works and very much inspired by Peter Smerdons commercial work across the region I have developed a deep appreciation for authentic hand painted signs. Although I started with custom graffiti lettering and initially shied away from paintbrush and traditional signwriting after I narrowly missed out on the last signwriting apprenticeship with Brisbane City Council in 1996. Back then far from a gift or talent I couldn’t write between the lines during school and struggled with learning difficulties. Its full circle to be enjoying traditional brush lettering more than ever as a late career artist. Its also interesting how digital stickers put an end to much of the sign painting industry and now AI is wreaking havoc to the entire arts sector however in Outback Queensland they sell firearms, cassettes and radios and seek authentic artwork crafted with skill and applied with quality materials to endure the harsh conditions.

A huge shout out to Searles Outback Store, Tattasalls Hotel and the Winton Outback Festival for the opportunity to splash some paint around. It was great to catch up with a stack of locals and I thank all of the tourists who indicated support but refrained from asking stupid questions!

There’s no doubt Winton is a leader when it comes to tourism and events so it was no surprise there were crews filming Travel Guides while I was working in the main street. Councils on the coast should take some notes as the Australian Age of The Dinosaur Museum will be bigger than Dreamworld in the near future. I’m planning to be back in the area in coming weeks to complete a few more commissions because I support the communities that support me, the abundance of blue skies, fresh air and good vibes…oh and a Guinness on tap that’s a winner after a productive days painting!

Capalaba

It was great to be busy on the brushes at Capalaba State College recently. I enjoyed applying artwork for Piranhas Amateur Swimming Club located on the junior campus. Thanks to the P&C for reaching out and enthusiasm throughout the process.

Muttaburra

I headed to Muttaburra from Winton and completed the front of what was once a butcher shop. I applied a faux aged look and kept the design simple to let the architecture feature. These old walls certainly have plenty of character.

Alpha

After almost 3 weeks in Winton I made my way to Alpha and completed menu boards for the Golf Club. It was great to work with familiar faces and contribute to new beginnings and upgrades at the club. I enjoyed the challenge and pretty much just got stuck into it, it was a nice day to be working inside avoiding the cool, gusty outback winds.

As I measured, contemplated options and lay out some sort of plan to fit the menu onto a single design to a prescribed theme, I reflected on my struggles as a child to write any kind of coherent text let alone stay within the confines of the lines. I used to get in trouble for poor writing, I could barely scratch out cursive in high school. Then graffiti changed everything, I developed a love for letters and the desire to explore custom and practice existing fonts.

For a job that I did on the fly with no formal training I am satisfied with the outcome and I relish the opportunity to do more of this kind of work in the future as it seemed to serve the client down to a tee (Pun intended)

Mt Cotton

It’s great to be commissioned to update one of my first ever paid jobs two decades later. During this time I have completed 12 murals at Mt Cotton State School and observed the school go through many changes, continuing to expand. My artwork and skills have also progressed over the years and each time I return to Mt Cotton there’s an element of nostalgia. It’s fantastic to not only have such a supportive client but to have brightened up the school environment for several generations of students. When you have parents say they remember you painting that wall when they were students you’re either getting old or very experienced at your craft!

Mt Cotton

It was great to return to Mt Cotton State School last week. The school is currently undergoing big changes to cater for growing enrolments and its awesome to contribute to the new look. I had painted a frog on this site back in 2007 and I am super happy to return to give the shed a fresh design.

Emerald

The new decade kicked off with a couple of projects in Emerald, Central Queensland. I completed the first stage of a project with Emerald State High School which saw a stack of positive messages in focus. I also completed a number of artworks for the Green Space Youth Drop in. This is an initiate of Central Highlands Regional Council, PCYC & Anglicare. Putting a day between projects to use to paint a new piece at the local BMX track wall made for a super productive couple of weeks.