Artist Rod Lucas paid a visit to his hometown of Mount Isa to pitch a mural for the town and showcase his most recent paintings.
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The self-taught artist grew up in Mount Isa and moved to Karumba in 1987.
He worked as a mechanic on the prawn trawlers, and as a professional barramundi fisherman for ten years.
Mr Lucas now spends his time painting in nature, and says the wild gulf country is the perfect environment.
“The Gulf of Carpentaria is such a nice place to record great paintings in my memory,” Mr Lucas said.
He uses a mixture of oil and acrylic paint, lead pencils for sketching, and has painted numerous murals throughout the gulf.
The artist has painted entrance signs to the Gregory and Burketown, and large-scale murals in Burketown, Normanton, Croydon, and Karumba.
Mr Lucas says he would love to keep painting murals throughout Australia, including Mount Isa.
To purchase a Rod Lucas painting or commission a mural, contact ‘Rod Lucas Art Studio’ on Facebook.
“You can only paint so much in Karumba and there’s not much room left up there, so I’m venturing out.
“I want to paint murals all through the gulf, Mount Isa, and overseas as well.
“I’ve been in the gulf for 30 years, and Mount Isa is part of the gulf, they do say that Karumba is another suburb of Mount Isa.
Bird life is Mr Lucas’ favourite subject to paint, particularly Queensland’s national faunal emblem, the brolga.
Mr Lucas works by a piece of advice given to him by Australian avant-guarde Brett Whitely.
“He told me to just keep painting, don’t stop, just paint whether you like it or not.
“I’ve never been taught to paint, but I’ve been painting for 47 years.
The artist is honest about the hard-knock life of a modern artist, admitting he even eats road kill to survive.
“It’s a struggle to try and etch a living out of art, but I’m dedicated to doing it and willing to eat roadkill to get to where I’ve gotta go,” Mr Lucas said.
“I’m quite poor now, I came to Mount Isa with $1.60 in 10 cent pieces.
He says Burkeshire council has been very supportive of his art, as well as the people of Croydon and Normanton.
The artist has illustrated three published children’s books, ‘A Barramundi Tale’, ‘The Magic Tree’, and ‘Hey Brother’.
Mr Lucas’ art and murals can be viewed on ‘Rod Lucas Art Studio’ on Facebook, or in person in Karumba.
He is currently finishing a mural for the state school in Karumba.
