Stefan Bradley
Loch Sport mural artist Simon White has been busy travelling the country, leaving trails of art wherever he goes.
In the spirit of supporting local, Mr White has painted murals for the local community to enjoy, such as the six that can be spotted around the Loch Sport foreshore.
The Gippsland Times met up with Mr White near the FoodWorks on Lake Street in Loch Sport as he pointed out the six murals.
“This is a series for the Loch Sport art trails,” Mr White said as he pointed to the kangaroo mural.
“We got lorikeets there, koalas down there, a couple of different eagles and a tribute to the Gunaikurnai clan.”
Painting murals is not a new thing for Mr White, who started painting them in the late 80s.
“I did a couple of murals in Melbourne and Cairns, but there wasn’t a big call for them back then,” he said.
“But since the Silo Art Trails came along, the appreciation for this sort of street art has gone through the roof, so I’ve been doing this full-time for about eight years now.
“I think people like the grand size of these murals and the imagery of the town they reflect.
“They can also be challenging to paint as they are outdoors.”
Mr White says he paints his murals to have a story behind them so people can relate to them.
“I’m a storyteller, not just a plain painter,” he said.
“I do want the imagery to stand out, be attractive and invite people in, but I’m not just reproducing a picture.
“When I get a brief from a client I make sure I incorporate the story into the mural.”
Mr White’s murals can be seen in Maffra, Briagolong, Yarram, Traralgon, Melbourne, Warragul and many other places in Victoria and around the country.
The eye-catching murals have drawn attention from visitors passing through Loch Sport.
“People are stumbling across colour and paintings in areas where they wouldn’t expect to see them,” Mr White said.
“We get to celebrate the local flora and fauna. It also creates a nice walkway in this area and enhances the already amazing view.
“It’s created a lot of publicity for Loch Sport.”
Olivia Grace Stevens mural in Heyfield, by Simon White.
Simon White parked in front of the Lakeview Bar and Bistro in Loch Sport. Photos: Stefan Bradley
Simon White’s mural at the Lakeview Bar and Bistro in Loch Sport.
Kangaroo mural – one of six by Simon White around the Loch Sport foreshore.
