The enduring farmer fashion item, the checked flannelette shirt gradually emerged, taking pride of place on the silo wall. As the artwork unfolded, the viewer was left in awe at the skill of the artist able to create such amazing large-scale wall pieces keeping perspective, creating light and shadows, capturing texture, all with meticulous attention to detail.
With photo-like realism, he captured the texture of the flannelette shirt, the classic check pattern with material folds as it drapes down over the farmers body, the raised button placket, the chest pocket, and folded-up sleeves with open neckline revealing the farmers weather-beaten “V-neckline” and greying chest hairs.
Details of the kelpie sheepdog were the last to appear, with its upturned ears and attentive eyes indicating that this working dog was ready for work. The soft-coated black and tan Kelpie while looking contented beside his master, also looked ready to respond to any given command. The artist cleverly created a sheen on his coat, a shiny black nose, a spark in his brown toned eyes and fine grey whiskers above his semi drooped mouth.
The dog collar with silver buckle and registration tag were completed on the final afternoon. As a “nod” to the history of Nullawil the registration disc has a “galah” and “stick” engraved on it. The name of the town is derived from two Aboriginal words, “Nulla” which means killing stick, and “Wil” derived from the term “willock” meaning Galah.
Low on the southern aspect of the silo, not far from the local stylish maroon PREMIERS ’98 graffiti, the SMUG signature sits.
