How cool it is to grace the cover of the world’s best community mag for a second year running! When I created the July 2021 Tawny Frogmouth cover, I never could have imagined how that would evolve. Something about a tawny frogmouth perched on a branch, sinking schooners with his possum buddy, set Tawny Frogmouth’s avian-in-chief Liam Carroll into a spin. “Let’s create a beer, we have to!” He screamed down the phone. “I’ll call Nick at Bucketty’s. We’ll get him keen! This is on!” Liam’s froth levels are likely more infectious than Covid, and once his mind was set on creating “The Tawny Frogmouth” beer, only to mistype the “F” and write “Grogmouth” instead, there was no stopping this brew coming to fruition.
Then, not only did the collaboration produce a delicious pale ale, it also brought the community together, raising $10k for our mates at WIRES! And, as a sweet bonus, our Tawny Grogmouth can design scored #9 in the GABS beer can design awards in Australia and #1 in NSW!
Jump ahead a year, and I’m beyond stoked to once more team up with Liam and Nick and create Tawny Grogmouth 2.0! This time all funds raised will be going to another super deserving and incredible wildlife organisation, Sydney Wildlife Rescue.
For my art practice, the past year has been up and down. I lost my studio and a lot of work to a mould infestation in December and have been studio-less for a few months which has been quite a challenge. But I also have a lot to be happy and grateful for. The border openings meant Tash (my partner) and I were able to finally make it back to Montreal to reunite with our Canadian family which was really special after so long. I also have my debut picture book launching with Affirm Press at the end of this month called Australia: From Dawn to Dusk.
This picture book follows the sun as it appears on the eastern most point of Australia in Byron Bay/Arakwal Country early in the morning and makes its way across our beautiful land finally ending in Rottnest Island/Whadjuk Noongar Country. It’s been a magical experience creating this book, exploring my palette all whilst highlighting important country and wildlife. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!
Follow Brent on socials @artofbrentos. Buy his book “Australia: From Dawn to Dusk” the moment it is released in August. And quench your thirst with Tawny Grogmouth 2.0 pale ales at Bucketty’s Brewing Co. in August, culminating with a huge party on Sat 27 August. All funds raised going to Sydney Wildlife Rescue.