THE distinct style of Fin DAC – an Irish-born urban artist – will remain a feature of Allendale East Area School as the visiting creative puts the final touches on his latest masterpiece today.
Combining with the school’s visual arts teacher April Hague, Finbarr Notte – who creates art under the monniker Fin DAC – said the project would remain true to his other work.
“I do tend to paint Asian and ethnic women in their traditional clothing,” he said.
“When I got here, I put some images up on the computer and put together some different models’ faces which I work with all the time.
“We just chopped and changed and came up with what we thought was right for the space and what April thought the kids would appreciate.”
Mr Notte said the piece was a mix of different Asian qualities.
“The clothing is Chinese to tie in with the learning of the language here at the school,” he said.
“Due to the shape of the building we needed to include a particular type of head dress which is more Balinese.”
Due for completion tomorrow, Mr Notte and Ms Hague have not had “too many challenges” so far.
“The rain has not been great obviously which seems to be coming and going,” Mr Notte said.
“When it rains it adds more pressure as I have large time constraints.
“I have already promised somebody to go to Adelaide to paint at a wall at a university for the Fringe Festival and I did not want to let anyone down.”
Mr Notte said each project often threw up unique circumstances which went against his plan.
“Sometimes you think of something and it does not turn out how you plan but so far there has been no major disasters,” he said.
Mr Notte hopes students at the school will be inspired by his work.
“They will be able to witness a person who is actually making a living of art and put it as a realistic possibility,” he said.
“When you are at school you say you want to be an artist and everyone tells you will need to get a real job.
“I am hoping that type of attitude around becoming an artist has changed over the years.”
Mr Notte recalled how many people told him to get a “proper job” when in school.
“I think it is now far easier to get a job in art,” Mr Notte said.
“We now have social media to promote ourselves which allows artists to get our work and imagery out there easier.”
Ms Hague said most secondary students have been involved with the mural portrait already.
“The secondary students have been heavily involved with the concept designing and have helped painting,” she said.
“Although, the younger students have enjoyed watching the progress take place as well.”
Originally Mr Notte assumed the younger students would be “splashing paint” on the wall.
“I thought I would just use whatever they did to make the dress and shade it in,” he said.
“I wanted it to be something everyone wanted.
“I wanted to give the students something to learn about, give them ideas and just let them run wild.”
Ms Hague said the whole wall would be transformed.
“I have learnt a lot that I will pass on to my students,” she said.
“The kids have only started working with Fin today though so they will learning more through the next couple of days.
“So far they have learnt about putting everything together, the concept designing process and how to Photoshop everything in together.”
