BUILT ON TRUST

There’s something pretty rewarding about walking into a school where the relationship has already been built. St Joseph’s Catholic School is one of those places. Having worked with them on previous projects, there’s already an understanding of what I do and, more importantly, a trust in what I can bring to their walls.

That trust is something I’ve come to really value. A large part of my work these days comes from schools inviting me back, sometimes again and again, each time with a new wall, a new idea and another opportunity to add to the story of the school.

This time, St Joseph’s had something a little different waiting for me.

I was asked to paint all four of the school’s house teams: Madonna, Lourdes, Fatima and Loreto. Each house represents Mother Mary in its own way, so the idea was to create four individual portraits, each with its own character and house colour, while still feeling connected as one body of work.

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In between painting the portraits, I was also working on three pillars at the front of the school, bringing their motto, Believe, Become, Belong, into the artwork. Each pillar carries its own symbol: Believe represented by a white dove, Become through prayer, and Belong through faith. Sitting right at the entrance, they became another part of the school’s identity woven into the project.

It turned into a much bigger undertaking than I first imagined. Each portrait took around two to two and a half days to complete, working carefully through the details one by one. Moving between the portraits and the entrance pillars gave the project a nice rhythm, with each piece gradually becoming part of the bigger picture.

Principal Matthew Mullins was an absolute legend throughout the project. It was a genuine honour to be trusted with something that carries so much meaning within the school.

Four houses, three pillars, and another chapter added to a relationship that continues to grow with every return.