Wonder Works Children's Museum 'Audience Mural' - Done! - Unveiling on October 10

Tomorrow, I shall pop in to Wonder Works to sign the mural. The 'official unveiling' is open to the public and takes place on Sunday, October 10, 12:30p-1:30p CST. Will post final photos of the mural, then. I can't ruin the surprise for those who are going to attend that day, now can I! :)

Now I am focusing on painting my entryway, which I've been wanting to do for a long time! I'll show you the eight paint colors I'll be using...

Wonder Works Audience Mural - Individual Audience Members

I am very far along with all 25 faces. Still plenty of touch up work to do - isn't there always! But rather than adding more detail, I am taking away. 

Wonder Works Audience Mural - Balloon Face Example

Here's an example of a Balloon Face I painted on my Wonder Works Children's Museum mural today. I want to get all 25 of the faces painted, then I will go around and edit them. For example, I shall make the ponytail on this audience member a bit thicker. (As they say, it's always easier to add more, than to take away!)


So far, I have about five faces painted. It's always hard to get rolling on a new phase of the project, which is what today was, so I hope to be zipping right along tomorrow. 

Wonder Works Audience Mural - Balloon Faces

Wonder Works Audience Mural sketch as proposed

To back waaay up, above is the original 'cocktail napkin sketch' that I proposed. Below, the upper portion that I am now painting. 

Groups of Seat back/Shirt shapes

(above rectangles are actually not seat backs or shirts)

Wonder Works Mural - Individual Seat backs/Shirts - Patterns and Motifs

Tricky mixing plaids and stripes? Try 25 different patterns, in all different colors. Here are most of the patterns and colors I've used on the seat backs/shirt shapes for the Audience Mural I am painting at Wonder Works Children's Museum in Oak Park, IL.First, I painted all the background colors. In most cases, I needed to do numerous coats to get the saturated color I desired. Now I am painting various patterns and motifs on them using brushes ranging from size 0 liners to 1" flats. I wish the colors were more true to life but as there are no windows in the theater, I have no natural light. You'll just have to come and see it in person! :)

Wonder Works Mural - Seat backs/Shirts

These sort-of-rectangular shapes do double duty. They represent both theater seat backs and theater goers' shirts, each unique. (The colors in these photos are a bit off - this main shape to the left is actually a barn red and a warm, dark gray on dark grape.


The project is so fun at this point. I feel like I am choosing color schemes for individual rooms in a house. i.e. the main shape to the left could represent grape walls, red bed cover, silver grey metal bed frame.


If you have a favorite color combination, I'd love to hear it. 

Wonder Works Mural - Saturating with Color

Wonder Works Mural - Taking Shape

Here we go! This is the wall in the theater room at Wonder Works, a Children's Museum in Oak Park, IL where I am endeavoring to paint a representation of an audience.

I've taped off the overall composition - quite the math problem. (If only I had 201.5 inch long arms!)  I'm just 'setting the boundaries' so to speak. 

Next, I will sketch in shapes with white primer. Like this...