Murals
Outdoor
The Bird Watcher
The Bird Watcher not only tells the story of Australia’s wildlife in general, but it also tells the story of local birdlife in particular. Mathoura, next to the Murray River, was the perfect place to get immersed into the experience of painting, surrounded by the characters that appeared on the wall, transforming the experience of painting a mural into such a magical adventure.
Nature, painting and wildlife
Painting in this place has given us the chance to truly immerse ourselves in the artwork. It’s one of those rare locations where the environment, wildlife, and the art itself come together in a unique way. While we were working on the lift, nature felt incredibly close. We found ourselves surrounded by the very creatures we were painting, making it one of the most magical experiences I’ve had while painting murals.
Taking on a water tower as a canvas was a bold challenge since it was a surface we’d never painted before. With this mural, we aimed to tell a story about water, using the surface to represent both land and underwater wildlife from the Murray River National Park. The characters featured in the mural mix local fauna, like the Murray cod, with iconic Australian creatures, such as the platypus – the mural’s central character. The platypus once lived in this area but has likely disappeared over time, so its presence in the mural is a call for its return to the Murray waters.
Additionally, the Soul Rider, symbolizing The Bird Watcher, is an alter-ego of ourselves as we worked on this mural, surrounded by creatures like cockatoos, kingfishers, and parrots.
