February 2010
9 posts
2 tags
Mural Scouting: Afro-Columbian Culture on U Street
Muralist Joel Bergner painted a scene soaked in Afro-Columbian culture on DC’s vivaciously eclectic U Street Corridor. I love this mural because it shines light on one culture’s struggle that we in the US can and have easily ignored. A well-rounded work of art, the mural doesn’t focus solely on tragic violence that Afro-Columbians face. It also shows a beautiful culture: with dancing, rivers,...
January 2010
10 posts
3 tags
Murals and Yoga: Lessons Learned
Holy week-long hiatus! I was up in Rehobeth painting a mural at Hot Yoga Delaware. I didn’t expect to come home converted to bending my body into crazy positions in 104 degree heat, but turns out? I did. Painting a mural in the company of the amazing Holli and Lisa (the wonderful ladies who own and run Hot Yoga Delaware) changed my world:
The Hot Yoga DE girls are dedicated to their students...
4 tags
Sale for Haiti
As a broke artist, I figured this is one small way I can donate to relief efforts in Haiti, and help others to donate as well.
Through the end of January, 30% of the profit of all items in my Etsy shop will go to the American Red Cross for their work in Haiti. Upon purchase, you will be mailed your art and proof of donation.
2 tags
Murals Abroad: India!
While I trounced among the amazing sights and lands that are part of the incomprehensibly varied and vast country of India, I was captivated by beautiful and intricate murals gracing the walls of its palaces and forts. The painted scenes that flourished upon those walls breathe life into ancient buildings – showing India’s rich and textured history of both beauty and war, royalty and poverty,...
3 tags
Murals in Process: Massive Canvas Building at the...
One of my current mural projects is a painting for the stage at the Electric Maid in DC’s Takoma neighborhood. The Electric Maid provides local musicians a place to put on live shows. Renovations are underway to enhance the Maid even further into a groovy community space, complete with Wifi, food and coffee, and just good ol’ fashioned neighborhood comfy-ness. Plans are afoot for movie showings in...
3 tags
Mural Technique: Clean Before you Paint
Today marks the return of my Mural Technique series. I already covered the how-to-make-a-mural quick low-down, and how to assess wall health. Today? I’m just saying the wall needs to be cleaned before you paint on it. Yep, perhaps this goes in the “obviously” corner, but I’m posting anyway. I devote an entire blog post to cleaning the wall because this step is absolutely vital despite being so...
3 tags
Mural Scouting: DC's Street Art Sweet Spot
A series of stunning street art murals are painted on the walls outside Irvine Contemporary art gallery. This sweet spot is likely known well by fans of Shepard Fairey (of the amazing Obama art fame), as his intricate and absolutely gorgeous work is fanned along the wall. Fairey’s art is complemented by an eclectic mix of other intriguing styles by artists Pisa73, EVOL (who did a super...
3 tags
Part II: Muraling in a Rural School in San...
I returned to the Apopa school several days after drawing the mural outlines, this time in company of a crew of about 40 Salvadoran volunteers. Everyone was ready to fill in the mural with brilliant color, as well as to rehabilitate the rest of the school by creating gardens, a playground, and repairing the furniture and structure.
Cups of colorful pigments and paintbrushes of all sizes were...
3 tags
Part I: Muraling in a Rural School in San Salvador
A hilly, bumpy dirt road amid volcanic mountains and lush greenery led to the site of my first muraling experience in El Salvador: a rural school on the outskirts of Apopa.
I arrived in the middle of the kindergarten graduation (to my eyes a prom day for kids). While these cute and festooned children received their diplomas, I was introduced to several blank school walls crying out for color....
2 tags
Stories from Central America
Looking back on 2009, one of the most amazing adventures of my year were the weeks I spent in El Salvador working with Glasswing International. They graciously allowed me to work on murals in several of their community projects. I was able to draw and paint, and meet amazing people making real change in their communities. So this seemed the best way to end the year and begin the next: To look...