Murals and Musings

Hello my Friends!

I've been waiting to unveil a project to you.  In fact, I showed a sneak peek here a bit ago....but NOW.....*drum roll*

IT IS COMPLETE! *crowd cheers*
Okay, so, it's the crowd of voices in my head, but at least they are all in agreement for once...haha!

Here is the finished mural I painted on my daughter's Preschool wall :)

It is done with acrylic paint and outlined with permanent black sharpie.  How did I ever come to take on such a huge project, you ask?....Well, I'm so glad you did :)

It's a lengthy story....so go ahead and get a cup of tea or a munchie to enjoy.... I'll wait :)

Anyhoo, it all started about 3 months ago.  I was diligently working on creating new pieces for an Art Show I was participating in.  I was trying something new after years of doing the same "old" thing creatively (I've always stuck with portraits of fairies, mermaids, etc in watercolor on watercolor paper).  This time I was inspired by the fabulous work of my friend, Sheree at Raven Moon Magic.  She used paperback pages as her canvas and the text as her message....and I was hooked!  I gave it a try and absolutely loved it.  My work was still based in the fantastic and the messages the text revealed to me leaned towards the mystical and playful. I was painting every night and posting completed artwork regularly.  I felt prolific, my spirit soared and I was happy!

My whole way I saw myself shifted from what I wanted to be (an artist) to being one!

So, one day, as I was dropping my girl off at school, I really took notice of the walls.  I saw the sad half- sketched start of a bee with a branch and a hive hovering there unfinished, drawing my attention.  Now, I had walked these same halls 3 days a week for the last 2 years, and never really gave this sight a second thought, but this day was different.  I walked up to the Administrator and opened my mouth...and said (this was so scary for me!)

"I'm an Artist, and I'd love to donate my time to finish that mural for you".  She said, " I thought you were a Massage Therapist?" Funny...

I handed her one of my postcards with my painting "Mother and Child" on it (the one on my sidebar) and her face lit up....so did mine!  I came to realize that I will only be respected as an artist, when I respect myself as one first!  What a leap for me....but I've been waiting a long time to overcome the obstacles in my own mind...

Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of them in there...just trying to find the strength to tackle them one by one...  Believing that I AM an artist was a pretty big one for me : oP

And so,...I procrastinated at first...as is my usual mode....but when I started to feel like apologizing for not getting started, I decided instead, to just START!

What was supposed to be just a "Finish What's There" Project turned into a Whole Wall Full Blown Mural, covering up completely what was previously there!

I went on the weekends and did a couple hours at a time.  The wall is not smooth, so it made painting details and outlining a bit more challenging....but I'm soooo glad I did this!

It makes that wall so happy now!  ....And the school's name, after all, is Happy Hippo Preschool :)
It feels so good to create for the sake of creating, for the enjoyment of others, just because I CAN!

Thanks for stickin' with me through that tale.  Long, but significant in my emergence as a true Creative!  I appreciate your support and the inspiration to take flight!

Smiles all Around!
Cam