Sliding Window Artwork for St Marys District School
IsaSt Marys, Tasmania · 2023
Project Details
Artwork Title: Harmony Of Thought
Client: Department of Education, St Marys District School
Commission: Tasmanian Government Art Site Scheme, managed by Arts Tasmania
Medium: Hand-drawn digital artwork reproduced as printed vinyl window graphics.
Setting: Interior glass windows between the art room and design hub, Manual Arts Building
Artist: Isa June
Client Brief
The school sought a bold, colourful, abstract and pattern-based artwork for four internal windows as part of its Manual Arts building redevelopment. The commission was intended to appeal to students aged five to eighteen, fostering wonder, curiosity and discussion.
The artwork needed to be visible from both adjoining rooms and account for the overlapping glass as the two central windows slid open.
The Artwork
I placed a student within an abstract landscape of local forest and the iconic silhouette of the rocky peak of St Patrick's Head, with eucalyptus leaves flowing around the figure. I wanted to reflect the school's student-centred philosophy, inviting young viewers to imagine themselves as both observers and participants in the scene.
A small hand gesture introduces a playful question: is the student holding or pulling? I used soft, hand-drawn shapes to guide the eye across the panels, repeating the vivid colours through the leaves, mountain and land to connect the figure with the surrounding landscape. The palette was built around the colours of the school uniform.
The sliding windows offered another opportunity for discovery. I designed clear areas, transparent colour and solid forms to work together, with repeated elements intended to overlap and align at different window positions. I wanted the opening and closing of the windows to become part of the experience, revealing shifting layers of landscape and light.
Project Development and Feedback
The client particularly appreciated the trees, which they felt captured Tasmania's east coast beautifully, and the inclusion of St Patrick's Head. They also valued that the student could be interpreted as either a boy or a girl, leaving the figure open to different readings.
A change to the window sliding mechanism meant I needed to adapt the design to the windows as built. I resized and cropped part of the artwork to suit the final window arrangement.
Credits
Vinyl installation by Think Big Launceston.
Can I Commission Custom Vinyl Artwork For Sliding Glass Windows?
Yes. I create original, hand-drawn artwork for glass windows, reproduced as printed vinyl graphics. For sliding windows, I consider the movement of the panels, how the composition overlaps, and the balance of clear areas, transparent colour and solid forms.
My exploration of light, shadow and colour lends itself naturally to this medium. My compositions invite light to become part of the artwork and encourage discovery and participation.
I welcome enquiries for school, workplaces, hospitality venues and private spaces. To discuss a commission and request a quote, please email me.
