Sunrise on the Pacific

       We needed to wrap up all the environmentl theme at Arminta on this huge wall.  

This bright new day should inspire all the kids to really wake up and embrace the new day!

 

Deconstructing Mondrian

   Arminta Elementary in North Hollywood hasn't run out of walls or ideas for themes so they wanted to brighten up the playground with an appropriate theme celebrating kids recess on this wall.  Inspired by Mondrian art I thought we could try something completely new for me.  I was pleasantly surprised how many raves I got for the modern style. 

Return to Pinewood

 We can’t stay away from this adorable preschool in Tujunga, CA. We feel like family after completing our second large mural project. Last year’s project was on all the classrooms of one side  The teachers on the other side say, “What about us!” So we returned!  Everyone gave their input on themes and modifying input as we painted so it turned into a partnership project. 

 

A View from the Window

     Pinewood Early Education Center has some beautiful outdoor play spaces but they definitely needed some brightening up!   The principal got some funding and gave us a call. The kids are definitely thrilled to move in and make themselves at home!  The teachers want to have their lunch by the waterfall!

                                                                            Before

The Power of Yet

 Glenwood Elementary, the school where I taught for 20 years and where my post retirement career began, was ready for something new and bright to be added to their mural collection. The principal wanted to encourage kids with a concept that was once conceived on Sesame Street, the power of yet. Powerful words but what kind of a background would bring so many words to life?  The concept of power reminded me of a mural we did about outer space and galaxies, its unimaginable beauty and power. I loved seeing the kids attracted to the colors and then reading the words.  I hope they carry that message with them as they face the challenges ahead. I know I have and will continue to do so. 

Soar with the Hawks!

 Vinedale Elementary School is a lovely school situated in the canyons of Sun Valley, California where the hawks are to be seen flying overhead daily and nesting in their trees. So, naturally their mascot is the hawk and they wanted a mural with their hawk as the center of attention. I asked how big. Big! Bigger!  No, bigger! We projected the seven foot tall hawk on the eight foot tall wall. Oh, the principal forgot to mention she wanted the hawk to be made of the handprints of the children and faculty! Wow! That is a vision I did not see coming! I slept on it while my mind tried to imagine how it would all come together and thankfully it did. Did you know latex gloves come in all sizes from age 4 to adult small and large?  That made dipping each one of nearly 300 hands into a dish with paint easy with no clean up mess. Whew! Over three weeks we worked together to make this amazing 30 foot wall come to life and  the Vinedale Hawks are very proud of their new mural. 

Keep Raining in this Forest

 Arminta Elementary school can’t get enough of the beauty of the rainforest. Two years ago we brightened the campus with a giant 36 x 12 foot mural of the rainforest during the pandemic shutdown. Now the kids wanted more! They created a tranquil corner on campus to sit and read or just chat with friends under these trees and helped paint more rainforest. They also planted flowers and painted the pots. They sit and dream the birds they hear singing are in the rainforest!  Even the local birds love it!