“I love every minute of it”: The mural artist painting joy into Colac life

When Terri Pollock’s brush hits a wall, she doesn’t just add paint – she transforms blank brick and plaster into vivid landmarks that locals and visitors alike stop to appreciate. 

Over the past few months, Pollock has been steadily changing the face of Colac, with murals completed at Rhodes Veterinary Clinic in May, the Colac Tourist Information Centre in August, and, just last week, on the wall of Bella Hope Café next to the Colac Legacy building.

It’s a job the 35-year-old mother of two never expected to find. 

Growing up in Alice Springs before moving to Victoria seven years ago, she never saw herself as particularly artistic until lockdown left her with plenty of time to explore. 

“I started dabbling in watercolours with my boys at home, and we all fell in love with it. I’ve just kept painting since then,” Pollock told the Brolga.

Her first steps into mural painting came through a women’s street art project in Geelong, before she built a portfolio painting water tanks, walls and interiors for private clients. 

Public commissions soon followed, and now Colac is her biggest canvas yet.

The Colac Tourist Information Centre mural in August was a turning point. 

“Public art is definitely one of those attractions, like the silo art trail,” she said. 

“This mural is definitely my most ‘out there’ public work, and it was a huge undertaking. I felt pressure to do a good job for the community, but I’ve had a lot of great feedback.”

Pollock describes her process as meticulous: assessing each wall, preparing a flat base, layering block colours, and only then adding what she calls “the juicy details”. 

But the art is about more than paint. “I’m a huge advocate for mental health,” she said. 

“I like the idea of inspiring people; if someone’s having a bad day and they come across something beautiful I’ve painted, it might help turn their mindset into a positive one.”

While Pollock said she enjoys every part of creating public art, it’s the chats with locals passing by and the challenge of delivering something special for them to enjoy that she loves most.

“It definitely sends excitement, especially when it's in the first stages, cause everyone's like, what's it going to be?” she said.

“People ask me how do you paint that large? But it’s also nice to challenge yourself, it’s so rewarding when you do achieve it.”

Image credits: Terri Pollock Art