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...

Wonder Works Children's Museum Mural - The 'Before'

In September, I am going to paint a mural on this wall, which is in the theater area of Wonder Works, a Children's Museum in Oak Park, IL. 

M is for Monogram Mural Idea

As you can tell, I like love shapes and colors; what are the letters of the alphabet but additional shapes with which to play. Here I have collaged/painted my initial 'M.' I'd like to monogram your wall, your door, etc. with one or more letters in this fashion. Give me a 26-room boutique hotel and I'll do one wall in each room! (Assign them 'room letters,' instead of 'room numbers') 

Here is a good place to point out that unless you see a frame, my paintings are likely 'wrapped' canvas, like you see here.

The Last Supper

Mixed media collage - 12"x12"

Circles

Choose any color, combination and size of circles, any color background.

Pie Plate Painting

Mixed media collage - 12"x12" - SOLD (not that I couldn't replicate something like this on a wall in your 'bakery') - (click on photo for enlarged view)

My Paintings Grace the Walls

Here are a few of my paintings (one large and two small) that I used in 'staging' this Bucktown, Chicago condo for sale. Pictures of the individual paintings to come.

Mural Mirror Border

The owner of the beautiful Pineapple Dance Studio in Forest Park, IL requested a lotus flower motif similar to one she had seen in a book, and below is the Moroccan style border that resulted. After I completed the painting of the border, using a mixture of deep blues, turquoise and gold metallic paints, she embellished it with acrylic jewels and belly dance hip scarf coins that dazzle in the light. (Click on photos for enlargement.)

Detail of mural border at Pineapple Dance Studio, Forest Park, IL

The 'Before'

The 'After'