A few weeks ago I began a fun mural project for Ethel R. Coop Elementary School, located just north of the city of Houston, Texas. Measuring 72' long and 8' tall, with the top edge at 16' from the floor, I knew it would be a challenge to finish this project before the children came back to school, but fortunately, the mural was completed just in time, taking 14 working days in all to finish.... yeah!
My sweet sister-in-law, Betty Orr, who happens to be a great teacher at this very same school, connected me with her Principle who had mentioned that he was interested in having an artist come to paint a mural for the kids. After viewing my website (praise to the power of this helpful artist's tool) and a few meetings and one rough sketch later, we were off to a good plan to begin this project! Thank you, Betty!
With every project there is a learning curve, and this one was no exception. The school was to provide a scaffold, which they were happy to do as they possessed a "lift", which I thought was more like one of those moving cherry pickers that go beep, beep as you drive the machine. I have used these on numerous other projects, but alas, this was not the case. I am certain this was the smallest space I have ever worked from for one of the largest murals I have ever painted. Quite and undertaking, but doable.
My sweet sister-in-law, Betty Orr, who happens to be a great teacher at this very same school, connected me with her Principle who had mentioned that he was interested in having an artist come to paint a mural for the kids. After viewing my website (praise to the power of this helpful artist's tool) and a few meetings and one rough sketch later, we were off to a good plan to begin this project! Thank you, Betty!
With every project there is a learning curve, and this one was no exception. The school was to provide a scaffold, which they were happy to do as they possessed a "lift", which I thought was more like one of those moving cherry pickers that go beep, beep as you drive the machine. I have used these on numerous other projects, but alas, this was not the case. I am certain this was the smallest space I have ever worked from for one of the largest murals I have ever painted. Quite and undertaking, but doable.
I felt like a giant on a tiny platform, and every time I needed to bend over to mix colors, my head would hit the safety bars that enclosed me. At least I did not have to climb up and down a scaffold, but I did need to move this hydraulic lift manually... not hard, just became necessary to do at least 1000 times throughout this project. Still, I was happy doing this as it allowed me to go high or low with great ease... so important.
What I enjoyed most of all was doing this mural for children. It was such fun to come up with the idea/theme, along with the colors and patterns to create an overall and hopefully enjoyable piece for the students to gaze upon while they fill their hungry bodies with lunch goodies. I have to admit, when I was first up there to sketch the image, I did find what looked to be dried food particles on the wall. Seems children will be children, and food can go a long way when flung high into the air.
What I enjoyed most of all was doing this mural for children. It was such fun to come up with the idea/theme, along with the colors and patterns to create an overall and hopefully enjoyable piece for the students to gaze upon while they fill their hungry bodies with lunch goodies. I have to admit, when I was first up there to sketch the image, I did find what looked to be dried food particles on the wall. Seems children will be children, and food can go a long way when flung high into the air.
There was another challenging part to this project - taking time away from creating my artwork for a scheduled solo show in November... now just a shy two months away! Studio time is my mantra lately... lots of it! But I am most satisfied to have accomplished this mural in a rather short period of time for a most worthy audience. May they dream, ponder and puzzle over the images and words that float above their curious and impressionable, little heads.
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