Redwoods Mural

A few months back I was able to finally start on another Silverado Middle School mural -- Hard to believe the last one was six years ago.

I was contacted about it last year, but after I said I'd like to do it somehow it took a year for the folks at the school to get back to me. I'd hoped to get it done before Christmas, but as it was I didn't get started until March.

This is what the wall looked like:

The request was for a mural showing 1) a redwood forest, 2) snow covered mountains, and 3) a creek. Ok. I cobbled together some old photos I'd taken in the Yosemite and in Sequoia National Park. I didn't have a suitable snow covered mountain, but I did find one in an ad in the AAA magazine. Looked like it might work.

the prototype mural plan

First I cleaned off the wall. It had been recently painted, but already had a few glops of stuff on it.

At about this point I realized that the wall around the corner to the right was quite blank and the mural might be extended around the corner. Interesting idea. I asked the principal if this would be ok. Sure, he said. I re-cobbled the plan:

The wall around the corner is much taller than the original wall, which is under a canopy. This gave me an excuse to show redwood trees being not just wide but also tall.

Here are a few work photos.

Creek being painted.

These folk are coming down the path on the streetside mural.

Here's the finished version of the original mural wall.

This shows how the mural wraps around the corner.
(It was about 3/4 finished at the time.)

Nearing the end, I spent a day designing and lettering a sign
showing a quote from a student's father which the
administration felt was appropriate to put on the mural.

This is the part of the wall around the corner, actually the street side of the building.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I haven't blogged lately. I've been busy.

1) Music: Played a week ago Thursday at Kelley's in Napa with Tom Overton, and then on Easter at the new Compadres in Napa with Johnny Smith.

I played the annual "O California" and "Sea to Shining Sea" shows with kids from all over Napa.

Also I've been helping a local singer get her CD recorded. And I've met some new musicians who may be lots of fun to play with. Life is getting interesting.

And tonight, in one of the most amazing gigs I've ever had, I played for a guy to propose to his girlfriend.

2) Murals: Finally got the go-ahead to start on a Redwoods Mural at Silverado Middle School in Napa. I was first contacted so long ago that I thought I could finish it before Christmas. But I didn't get to start until March 15. Here's how it's going:

This is the long side of the mural (it's on two walls that meet at a corner):


and around the corner to the right is the street side, which goes up higher:


I'd worried about having to get some long ladder to do the top of this one, but then I discovered the wonder of extension poles and painting pads and foam rollers. Painted everything from the sky up from the ground. A lot of fun, actually.

As if all that wasn't enough, last weekend I met a very talented muralist who asked me to help him with some projects. Could turn out to be a wonderful collaboration. I sure hope so.

I'm so happy to be busy doing the things I love. What a lucky guy I am.

Just my luck everything starts going great and the country falls into a massive economic depression. I hope not. . .