Phillip Island as a puzzle

Those who know Phillip Island will recognise the many iconic places and businesses Lisa McLure has artfully included in her latest offering, the Phillip Island Millowl jigsaw puzzle.

In Phillip Island Millowl, local artist Lisa has crafted a work that inspires closer inspection - the 101 sq km island has been compacted, in great bursts of colour, into a vibrant village.

A self-taught artist, Lisa retired from a 33-year career in hairdressing last year following the success of her artworks, which include jetty jumpers in San Remo and a series on the Cowes jetty that includes the legendary Isle of Wight Hotel, destroyed by fire in 2010, in the background.

A colourful mural she painted on the Phillip Island Golf Clubhouse cemented Lisa's reputation, and she has been approached to undertake more artworks and murals.

"I'm now able to focus on artwork full-time, and it's wonderful," said Lisa at her studio in Smith's Beach.

As Lisa first explored drawing and painting over recent years, she found encouragement and inspiration at the Arts Society Phillip Island Region (ASPIR).

"Everyone was so welcoming and supportive," she said.

The idea for the Phillip Island Millowl was "in my head for a long time".

"I had seen some old paintings of the island and was inspired to paint my own 21st century version - the island through my eyes," said Lisa, who has lived here for 23 years.

"The initial idea was to include buildings that were a bit different so easily recognisable.

Then I began including places I like.

And dogs of course.

"The painting wasn't first sketched and then painted over. It just grew. And kept growing because I discovered new places and added them.

Then I forgot some places I love so I had to add them too.

"Eventually there came a time when I had to stop because I had no more room."

Lisa spent more than 450 hours drawing and painting before the work was completed.

Updates

Over the four months Lisa worked on the painting, she shared updates on its progress on social media.

"People were loving it. It was those posting on social media who suggested a jigsaw puzzle."

Phillip Island Millowl takes some studying, with many different placenames crowded onto the canvas, and well-known island destinations woven into the piece.

There's an outsized Holden wagon with a surfboard on the roof crossing an undersized bridge, and the island's surf shops and board riders are prominent.

The Phillip Island Chocolate Factory stands next to A Maze n' Things, the Purple Hen Winery next to the Rhyll Tavern - when we know they aren't.

But it doesn't matter, the painting works for those who know and love Phillip Island.

There's hidden humour too - at the Penguin Parade, penguins are seated in the stands while people float in the water, and at the popular, pet-friendly The Store in Ventnor, a sign says humans are also welcome.

Puzzle

Such is the allure of Lisa's Phillip Island Millowl it won the People's Choice Award at this year's ASPIR Annual Easter Art Exhibition, held at the Berninneit Cultural Centre.

"I decided to donate $5 to ASPIR for every jigsaw puzzle sold. More than 150 puzzles were sold before the first shipment arrived from Queensland," said Lisa.

Lisa was firm that her puzzles were made in Australia. "They are high quality. I want them to last," she said.

A sense of originality shines through Lisa's work, a work that is one of creativity, self-expression and fun.

"I don't stick to the rules of perspective and other aspects of formal art training.

I'm self-taught so I don't have to.

People seem to like my work, and that's all that matters to me," said Lisa.

"Jigsaw puzzles mean anyone can have the artwork, once they've completed the puzzle. And I enjoy creating something that makes people happy."

Details: Phillip Island Millowl jigsaw puzzles are RRP $89.95.

Prints of the original painting are $252 (1000 x 400 unframed), $385 for the original size 1500 x 600 size print unframed, $685 framed.

For purchases visit Lisa's website https://lisamclureartist.com.au