Want to make a very unique statement? Try a wall mural...

 An outside covered entry with a stucco surface is a perfect spot to create a unique statement…and here is mine.

Wall murals were a popular decorating statement in the 90's...dining rooms, entryways and especially children's rooms were personalized into magical places using trick of the eye artwork. I was fortunate to be the right age and stage in my life to climb on ladders and fearlessly paint on people's walls. My confidence came from having the wall paint nearby for mistakes and having excellent partners in this endeavor both in St Louis, Missouri and then in McKinney, Texas. I felt like a surrogate accomplishing what someone envisioned. at first our clients were people we knew or word of mouth but eventually we were hired by an interior decorator ( thank you, Kim). She had high end clients and entered our completed rooms in contests in magazines like "Window and Wall Ideas" ....and we won! I have the magazines to verify this. What a thrill.

                                                      

Although the faze/craze did not last...it is creeping back as outdoor art in many parts of buildings and shops in cities large and small. It is, of course, all over Europe where it has existed for centuries. McKinney recently had grain bins painted by an Italian artist and it has become a tourist attraction there. So....I thought I would try a little touch of it in our new home in Austin. 

Our outdoor courtyard needed a fountain.

Acrylics are weather sturdy and remarkably easy to blend. For the grayish masonry I used a combination of Prussian Blue, Orange and Sap Green. I added Sepia to darken and Titanium White on the lighter areas.

Because it was a stucco wall, I had the texture built in but there are mediums to add texture to any project.

The water…this is a lifelong pursuit…how to capture the movement, glisten and wetness! Basically it is the shape and pattern that catches light because water is clear, not blue. I used French Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White to spritz, spray , drip and puddle the waters in this fountain.

Stay tuned for the final view. It was still too hot in early November to complete this composition so I’m just waiting for cooler temps.