Painting My Own Corner of the World

Studio 789 Mural

For as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of having my own creative studio—a place to make, experiment and share ideas with others.

In 2022, that dream became a reality with the opening of Studio 789, my own space at 789 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, in Sydney's Inner West.

The studio wasn't perfect. It was a little rough around the edges, a little grimy and full of potential—but it was mine.

Naturally, the first thing I wanted to do was paint it.

The Challenge

The studio sits within a neighbourhood filled with families and young children, yet the surrounding streetscape lacked colour and visual personality.

I saw the storefront as an opportunity to contribute something positive to the local community—to create a mural that felt welcoming, playful and approachable for everyone passing by.

The project needed to:

• Give the studio an identity of its own.
• Create a friendly and inviting street presence.
• Engage with local families and children.
• Transform an otherwise ordinary shopfront into something memorable.

The Creative Approach

I approached this mural differently from previous projects.

Rather than creating one large composition designed to be viewed from a distance, I developed a modular mural system that could be experienced in smaller moments.

The location naturally informed the design.

Foot traffic along the street occurs almost entirely on one side of the road, meaning pedestrians encounter the mural up close rather than from afar.

The solution was to create a series of individual sections that:

• Function as standalone artworks.
• Reward close viewing and interaction.
• Allow pedestrians to discover the mural piece by piece.
• Introduce personality and moments of delight throughout the entire storefront.

At the heart of the mural is a friendly, character-driven approach intended to bring warmth and colour to the street.

Creating a Space for Community

Although the mural was painted for my own studio, it quickly became something larger than that.

Children in the neighbourhood immediately connected with the characters and imagery, turning the storefront into a small point of curiosity and joy within the community.

The project reinforced something I strongly believe:

Creative spaces should contribute to the places they inhabit.

Result

Studio 789 became more than just my workplace—it became a colourful and welcoming part of the streetscape.

The mural transformed an ordinary storefront into a public-facing piece of artwork that reflects both my creative practice and my desire to create spaces that feel open, friendly and connected to the community around them.