MURAL artist Bradley 'Beastman' Eastman spent the week at Windsor High School in Mulgrave painting an artwork in the school quad to honour visual arts teacher Kelly Rousham who passed away while on a trip to Ethiopia.
The week was declared 'Beastman Week' while the artist worked on his creation, with lunchtime dance-offs, musical performances and a special school assembly interview with Beastman thrown into the mix.
Teacher Louise West said Ms Rousham, who had loved to travel, had made a "profound impact during her short time [teaching] at Windsor [High]".
"One of the achievements that Kelly felt most proud of in her career was helping Nepean High School to organise a mural by world renowned Australian artist BEASTMAN - Brad Eastman," Ms West said on a GoFundMe page to raise money to pay for the Beaastman mural.
"In Memory of Kelly and her outstanding contribution to the education of so many, we have organised for BEASTMAN to come to Windsor High School in August to complete a mural in the main quad.
"All donations will contribute to equipment and materials to help us create a lasting masterpiece in honour of my best friend and fellow educator."
Mr Eastman told the Gazette he had enjoyed his time at Windsor and loved spending time with the kids.
"I got a random email [request from Ms West] asking me to do the mural. It was pretty last minute. But it all fell into place like it was meant to be," said Mr Eastman, who grew up in Kellyville and was due back for a trip from his new residence in Bali around the time the mural was proposed.
"I'm using aerosol paint and the kids have found it engaging to watch because most people relate spray cans to tagging - which is a result of the media.
"I use spray paint as a medium because it dries in a minute and I can layer five colours in five minutes - you can't do that with acrylic paint. I'd be here two months rather than a week if I was using a paint brush."
He said the design was "in line with my body of artwork" and was based around the themes of "travel, global connectivity, and the pathways we form through landscape".
"My work's abstract, and the kids are like 'What is it?' I say 'Wait until it's finished'. I love that about art - people discovering what they think of it themselves."
He said he felt welcome at Windsor and was passionate about Western Sydney and getting more public artworks out there in regional towns.
"There's a lack of public art here, so I'm stoked to be here, and I think the kids are too - they call me a celebrity, it's pretty funny," he said.
"The kids have got good energy. I love doing stuff at schools - a lot of that has been a result of what I did at Nepean. It was a great stepping stone.
"I would love to do more murals at schools. School buildings are so drab.
"I say to kids it doesn't matter what your passion is, you can make it your life. A school can only offer a certain amount, so I tell kids to go further and explore what's out there."
To contribute to the cost of the Beastman mural, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/kelly-rousham-memorial-mural.