All of my paintings are quite large. I enjoy working in a large scale; the painting becomes a sort of environment to experience, a place to play and to discover. Looking back, I believe this excitement for big, colorful works came from painting my first mural. I was offered the opportunity in 2009 to paint a mural for the "Kids-N-Krisis Program," one of the many services offered through Roanoke's Social Services. I was very excited.
I was currently enrolled in a service-learning course at Radford University that focused on volunteer work and community development. As part of the class, we were encouraged to seek out opportunities that related to our concentrations. I was lucky enough to happen upon the need for artwork thanks to the City of Roanoke's volunteer coordinator. The need was for a kid-friendly mural to be painted in the children's visitation room, to brighten up the place and make it a more welcoming, enjoyable, and visually exciting environment for both the kids and parents during visitation hours.
After visiting the site, I felt my first design was going to crowd the space, making it too busy and claustrophobic. I drew up another design right away with another goal in mind: to get the kids and other volunteers involved in painting the mural, too. What was originally going to be a solo project became a collaboration involving volunteers of all ages. I simplified the mural design to large, playful, geometric shapes that anyone would feel comfortable painting, regardless of their experience. And instead of focusing on the sketches I created alone, I wanted the volunteers to speak up and play a part in the process, too. This was going to be a place they helped create.
I was currently enrolled in a service-learning course at Radford University that focused on volunteer work and community development. As part of the class, we were encouraged to seek out opportunities that related to our concentrations. I was lucky enough to happen upon the need for artwork thanks to the City of Roanoke's volunteer coordinator. The need was for a kid-friendly mural to be painted in the children's visitation room, to brighten up the place and make it a more welcoming, enjoyable, and visually exciting environment for both the kids and parents during visitation hours.
After visiting the site, I felt my first design was going to crowd the space, making it too busy and claustrophobic. I drew up another design right away with another goal in mind: to get the kids and other volunteers involved in painting the mural, too. What was originally going to be a solo project became a collaboration involving volunteers of all ages. I simplified the mural design to large, playful, geometric shapes that anyone would feel comfortable painting, regardless of their experience. And instead of focusing on the sketches I created alone, I wanted the volunteers to speak up and play a part in the process, too. This was going to be a place they helped create.
The prep work consisted of laying out the composition. The first attempt was made using pencil. Due to time restraints (volunteers had but one day to participate), the plan changed. The shapes were quickly blocked out using painter's tape.
This photograph captures the reason I wanted to do this mural. It was a wonderful thing to see a young girl contribute to such an important project, to see her eyes light up when she found out she could paint the wall whatever color she desired (orange was her favorite choice).
The final product! Many thanks to all of the volunteers for their work and their input. It was a humbling thing for me as a learning artist to see how committed people can be to improving their environments through art. I hope the mural has served the Kid's Room well.
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