Simon Thomas from Chalk Talk Inc. Photo: Ian Campbell.
Jaws are dropping as residents and visitors to Merimbula watch Simon Thomas work his magic, creating a massive marine mural on the side of Club Sapphire.
A huge Humpback Whale is the start and will be the focal point of a scene that develops over the next four weeks as Simon manours his scissor lift up and down the vast brick and fiberboard wall that is his canvas.
“There’ll be a lot of the natural environment added, including Top Lake, mangrove trees, surfers, stingrays, and oysters,” Simon says.
This “old school” signwriter originally from Wollongong, runs Chalk Talk Inc and is normally working on hand-painted signs, murals, and chalkboards a fraction of the size. One week in, Simon approaches what will be one of his biggest works ever with an easy calm and joy that is shared with those watching on.
“A person yelled out to me yesterday that this is making their town beautiful and I really appreciate that,” he says.
“There’s about 40 litres of paint in this one, but years ago I did one that was 800 litres. This is probably the most intricate I’ve done though.
“There’s about 40 litres of paint in this one, but years ago I did one that was 800 litres.” Simon Thomas. Photo: Ian Campbell.
The thrust of the work is to make people feel good and soften the harsh built environment of this already stunning seaside location.
“This is a natural progression, this is such a beautiful place physically and we wanted to capture a little bit of that,” he says.
“I moved to this area a couple of years ago from up north, and there is a really big street art movement to produce things like this, I’d love to see more of it here.”
Simon is using good quality signwriting paints to beat the rigors of the environment and allow his work of art to last for many years.
“I am using paint brushes and rollers, I don’t use spray cans I’ve got an aversion to them because of their damage to the environment, and I didn’t want to have that blended look, I want this be seen as a brushed artwork.”
There is a drawing that Simon is working off as he tackles each 1.5 metre section at a time, getting up and down to get a wider, full perspective of his work from the ground every half hour or so.
“There’ll be a lot of the natural environment added, including Top Lake, mangrove trees, surfers, stingrays, and oysters,” – Simon Thomas. Photo: Ian Campbell.
Damien Foley, CEO of Club Sapphire says once the mural is complete the ugly wall exposed by the new Woolworths development next door will quickly be forgotten.
“It’s become the face of the club, we could have just gone with big signage about schnitzels and chips,” Damien smiles.
“But we wanted to do something that would be valued and contribute to the community we are a part of.”
Watch this space over the next four weeks as Simon’s masterpiece comes together.
The ugly wall exposed by the new Woolworths development next door will quickly be forgotten. Photo: Ian Campbell.
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