As part of our CSR objectives at OSA Recruitment, we have a focus on the arts. That’s why we were proud to sponsor the recent creation of a mural at St James.
We asked local artist James Colmer, who painted the mural, all about the project – how he came up with the concept and what impact he thinks it will have on the local community.
How did OSA Recruitment support the project?
OSA Recruitment sponsored the whole project, which was amazing. They paid for the paint and all the supplies. Without their sponsorship, I honestly don’t think it would’ve happened.
How did the mural project come about?
Jon, the manager from St James, contacted me to explain what they were planning, and to see if I’d be interested. It’s such a unique place in the heart of St Peter Port, with amazing views across the town and out to the other islands, so I was intrigued to find out more.
What inspired the jungle theme for the mural?
The space where they wanted the mural went upstairs from the reception and foyer area to the café. The café itself had been recently refurbished and had a bit of a jungle vibe with tropical plants. I thought it’d be good to bring out this theme in the mural so people could get a flavour of the vibe in the café as they go upstairs.
How did you approach designing the mural, and what was your creative process from concept to completion?
Jon said he was keen for it to have a contemporary twist but gave me a very open brief on the subject matter. That’s why I came up with the jungle idea for the mural. I decided to pull out some of the characters that appear quite small in the wallpaper in the café and embellished them with things like top hats and headphones. I came up with some of the other characters myself, like the punk finch. When I showed Jon the concept, he just said “I love it”.
How long did it take to complete?
It took about two weeks to complete at the end of September. It was quite a challenge to complete it in the time, and it meant working 12-hour days and some weekends, but I really enjoyed it. There’d be days when I’d be working and there’d be jazz rehearsals going on in the café.
What challenges did you face while working on such a large-scale project, especially with completing it in just two weeks?
It was definitely a challenge to complete it in the timescales. I had a lot of nervous energy as I wasn’t sure how it would go. The biggest challenge was getting the scale right. I sketched it on paper first and then used a programme on my iPad called Pro Create to play around with the sizes and colours. We also had to put scaffolding up as it was two storeys high in parts. That was a bit of a challenge.
Do you have a favourite section in the mural? If so, why does it stand out to you?
The chameleon in a top hat was my favourite while I was painting the mural. But now I think my favourite is the tree frog with the headphones. I like that they all have their different characteristics and personalities.
How do you feel the mural reflects the personality of St James as a community space?
St James has such a diverse range of events. One night they’ll have a classical music concert and the next night it’ll turn into a rock venue. So I wanted the characters I created to have different vibes – they each have their own style, and I think they reflect the different audiences who visit the venue. The mural certainly brings character and personality to the venue and has transformed the traditional concert hall. We used UV paint in some places and Jon has installed a UV light, which, when projected onto the mural, looks awesome and gives a more contemporary vibe.
Is there a particular message or feeling you hope people experience when they see the mural?
Art can have a profound impact on people and everyone has an opinion on a piece of art. This mural is playful and fun and I like to think it will encourage conversation. My hope is that the people who visit, feel the mural adds to their experience of visiting St James.
Find out more about James and his work here: https://jamescolmer.com/
