Year 10 Urban Art students from Alkimos College were treated to the tips and tricks of the trade recently thanks to renowned WA mural artist, Ian Mutch.

Commissioned to create public art for the ceiling and entry screens at the new Eglinton Station on the METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension Project, Ian spent time with the young artists giving them a sneak preview of the art concepts that feature large, overlapping Grevilleas, leaf shapes and large Monarch butterflies, as well as talking about what inspires his work. 

The career talk is part of Ian’s engagement with the Alkimos community, providing him with the opportunity to also share his experience, painting techniques, tips and tools for public art with the students.

Alkimos College Visual Art teacher Shannon Peppercorn explains that the workshops were a huge hit.

“Ian provided invaluable information about how to create a mural and the different things you can do to get inspiration. Hopefully one day the students will make a career out of it,” Shannon said.

Year 10 student Dean Hutchison agreed, describing the workshop as a great experience.

“I got to learn about new techniques and Ian has inspired me to do more and experiment with this form of art,” Dean said.

A variety of public art pieces will be incorporated at Alkimos, Eglinton and Yanchep stations currently being built as part of the project. 

All public art delivered under the METRONET Public Art Strategy aims to create a distinct identity for each station and surrounds, making enjoyable areas for local communities while affording opportunities for emerging and WA established artists.