Smug is one of the world’s rock stars of murals. This is his first work in Tumby. Smug came to Tumby Bay not knowing what he was going to paint. Tumby Bay – a seaside town with a fish and chip shop gave him the inspiration to paint this piece. Local Paul Stoddard sourced a snapper and leather apron. Smug took a photo of Paul with the snapper and leather apron as well as the fish cooker at the fish and chip shop to use as a basis for his mural. This is painted entirely with aerosol and shows the high skill level. Looking at the hands and the fish, Smug has achieved making the fish and hands “pop’ – that is, it looks 3D after gazing at it. This is what artists try to achieve but is very difficult to do. The details are really worth noticing, particularly the scales and eyes, the detail in the hands and shading. Look at the eyes and the detail reflected there.
It is a tradition in Smug pieces to search the piece for the hidden skull. The young girls of the family who own the wall researched Smug and knew more about Smug than Smug did! They watched the progress of the painting closely, sitting in chairs with sun shades and had “Smug Snacks” for when he needed drinks and food. When he finished the piece they asked him where the skull was as there wasn’t one. Originally he wasn’t going to put a skull in this piece but after the girls pestered him so much, he relented and put the skull in at the last minute. When the girls got up the next morning, there was the skull! The family has remained in close contact ever since.