Homecoming for illustrator

Graphic designer and illustrator Travis Price will return to his home town of Dimboola this month to paint a large mural on the external wall of Dimboola Café.

Price has designed the mural to recognise and acknowledge Dimboola district indigenous history and culture, the Wimmera River, district plants and animals, agriculture, and early settlement.

Hindmarsh Shire youth councillors, Dimboola Memorial Secondary College teachers and students, and regional artists will help him with the project.

Price completed his secondary schooling at Dimboola college and went on to study at the University of Ballarat. After graduating he started his career as a graphic designer before becoming a renowned commercial illustrator.

During the past 20 years he has worked for clients including Mambo, Nike, Under Armour, Pearl Jam and Blink–182.

Winning international respect for his ‘evolution and experimentation in vector illustration’, Price has presented his work at many design conferences and universities including the National Gallery of Victoria. He has achieved this while working from his home-based studio in Ballarat.

Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Ron Ismay said the project represented a rare opportunity for Dimboola.

“It isn’t every day a world-renowned artist returns to his home town to work with local students and artists to pass on expertise and experience,” he said.

“For Travis to return to Dimboola to give his time to paint the mural is an unbelievable commitment by him and great achievement by members of the Hindmarsh Youth Council who instigated this initiative.”

Price said he was looking forward to painting the mural and ‘to catch up with some old mates’.

“Weather permitting, I hope to start painting on July 23 and expect to be completed by the end of the month,” he said.

While in Dimboola, Price will talk with college students, and with the support of Dimboola Town Committee, will lead a community presentation on July 23 at Dimboola RSL Hall from 7pm.

Price will talk about his journey from Dimboola to working with some of the world’s biggest brands.

There is an open invitation to the public to attend the presentation.

Hindmarsh Shire Council and the State Government’s FREEZA program have provided financial help for Price create the mural.