MOUNT Gambier artist Phil Clements has a vision to enliven Mount Gambier’s streetscape with a number of vibrant murals on commercial buildings.
With a dreamy, pastel beach scene under way on an exterior wall at Arena Sports Store and having completed a Colonial-art inspired mural at the South Aussie Hotel, Mr Clements revealed he had big plans to transform empty walls across the city.
“I’m working on a number of commissioned projects at the moment – I’m flat out, which is great,” he told The Border Watch this week.
“I’ll soon head over to Tonkins In-Car Solutions to paint a jeep busting through a wall and I’m working on another historic Australian mural at McDonald Park School.
“There is a big empty wall at the Mount Trade Centre where I’m planning to paint a dinosaur and I’m painting a coffin for a terminally ill local man – I have heaps on the go at the minute.”
Growing up on Sydney’s northern beaches, Mr Clements said he was well practiced when it came to painting a sunset, the glittering ocean or a surfer catching a wave.
“I grew up in Manly and spent every weekend with my grandfather, who was a very talented artist,” he said.
“Every weekend I was at the beach during his art classes learning from him.”
He said the beach mural at Arena Sports Store was a work in progress and would take around two weeks to complete.
“It’s a really rough surface but rather than sand the wall and take forever to prepare the surface I just paint layer on layer of acrylic,” he explained.
“Eventually I will build it up with oil paints.
“Pitty wanted a beach scene and I think he’s pretty happy with how it is turning out – I have had so many compliments from passers-by, which is always nice.”
