Western style mural: WIP - Page 7

Aqua Artist · #91 07-17-2003, 01:07 PM

glad I opened this link, what a treat!!!

coolray · #92 07-18-2003, 11:46 AM

Thanks all!

Ol'Rickdude! I am so glad to see you drop by! And thanks for the link! I wasn't really aware (after 2 1/2 years being here) that the muralists had a particular place to hang out! I will have to go check it out!

Jakeally: I will be waiting for you at the airport!

Aqua Artist: Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the mural.

Now on with the latest:

I have come to a point in the mural that allows me to look at it and say that there is not much more I can do to this to improve it. But I still have a train to put in, and some signs to fill out on one of the other walls. I also will do something that I rarely do, and that is paint a self portrait of me in the mural. I will put myself into the mural as an artist painting the scene that the viewers are looking at.

More pictures, but they will be posted later. The biggest thing I guess for me so far, that has been a hurdle, has been adding things that were not planned. The fifth wall is one example. But even on the other walls, I had added items that were not in the original plan. I say that this is a hurdle, but actually it has challenged me to see beyond the planned works, and see what is possible to expand on. So, I worked in alot of items that required a look at the composition of the whole mural, and yet, I have treated this like a real western scene, one in where anything is possible, if it helps the painting. That part in itself has been fun!

More suggestions along the way have to be considered before putting them into the mural. I have added likenesses of local people into the mural (with some enhancing for vanity purposes) and that has brought life to it's own.

I call this mural the biggest business card I have ever painted. I know this to be true at this point, because of all of the work that has cropped up since starting this project. Now I have to weed out all of the 'wish-I-could-afford-it' from the ones who will actually pay for the service.

Well, I wish I could show you updates, but alas my images would not upload, so I am looking to get that fixed by next week. As I wind up this mural, I am looking at the nearly 7 weeks that it has taken me to paint 160 linear feet of wall space, countless buildings, horses, many windows, and all of the vast land that I created in such a confined space. I have been told that I expanded the room by some 30 extra feet just by making it look like you are seeing straight to the outside. I normally don't put in my personal thoughts about why I paint, into these WIP threads, but for me, this mural has set a whole new flame to burn inside of me. I would paint here forever, even if I never recieved another dime for the work. It's more about doing what you love to do, with the talent that God has given you. I personally thank God for my ability to create works of art like the one that I have done here. I know now that I am leaving a part of myself behind for those who choose to admire the mural, can do so and try to understand the artist behind the painting.

If you ever get a chance to come by and see this mural. Let me know. I want to personally be there to take you on a tour. It will be one that you will remember, I hope, for a long time to come. I know I will. It has been an experience.

So, next time, I will be adding the locomotive at the train depot, and wrapping up some of the last details. I will post FULL wall pictures, so that you can see how it all comes together.

Until then have a great weekend!

Terry

Jakeally · #93 07-18-2003, 01:03 PM

Awwwww Terry......you have done a magnificent job and I am so happy you got so much out of doing it.
It has been a real treat for me to watch over your shoulder and make no mistake...if we manage to get over to your part of the world I will be coming to see your wonderful Mural.
I can't wait to see the pictures in all their glory

champagneharley · #94 07-18-2003, 08:35 PM

love all you said Terry...
Tis such a treat to go on this 'journey' with you.
Bravo!
Such a scary undertaking, especially when there has been so many twists and turns. Each you've taken in your stride, and shone!
Bravo! (again)
Looking forward to the pix.
Regards,
Jillian

hoart · #95 07-19-2003, 11:44 AM

Looks great. What a project. I enjoyed reading about it too.

Great to share.

Murals are quite a project where your dealing with a big space (wall).
I did a noah's ark mural for my daughter's room, and as you know it takes a bit of planning.
My story is rather amusing. I was 8-9 months preg. with her and we just moved in to our house. I barely got started on it when I gave birth to her. So, when we got home, during her naps in our room I painted. It got done before she got too big for the bassonett.lol

Take care.

Lisa W.G.

coolray · #96 07-22-2003, 11:14 AM

Thanks hoart for sharing! That's a nice ark you have there! At least you will have fond memories of that mural!

Well, the clock is ticking as I wind up what is hoped to be the last week on the mural as far as painting. I will seal the whole thing in a clearcoat as soon as I am confident that the paint has cured properly. Another week or so, and I can do that.

Filling in the town and the train depot has been the latest of the project. I am trying not to overdo adding things in, but I had to get some of the voids filled in, so that the tow would look alive.

The locomotive is the last thing to paint, and I have already drawn the basic shapes to show where it will be located. Now the hard part is to get the details in correctly, because there are those who will critique it with a precise eye.

Okay! More pix! I have some of the train depot, and a little monkey show that was added per request of the client. So enjoy, more pix to come and then the finale of the whole mural all put together!

The first pic is one of an employee who wanted her own hotel.

coolray · #97 07-22-2003, 11:20 AM

well I had other pictures, but they were too big. But I will put them up again, and have the final thoughts of the mural.

Terry

coolray · #98 07-28-2003, 10:56 AM

It's the final week of the mural!

Yes, the last week of actual painting on the mural and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I have some little additives to paint on as last minute requests, but other than that I am basically finished, save for the clear coat. I am at the point that because of the ending of this mural, I am hesitating putting on my signature, so that I may continue on with the painting. But I know this is the time to stop and let go. Isn't that the way? I mean, every time I do a painting, I get very attacted to it. It is hard to walk away and say "here it's yours!". I guess alot of you feel the same way.

The client has been enjoying this as much as I have, and I am glad to be leaving the mural in the hands of someone who enjoyed the journey as much as I have. I can see already that the mural will be talked about for a long time. I also can see the future jobs that I will be (and have been) getting.

The process of painting this mural has been a long one. Eight weeks to creat a Western scene that takes you away from the real world. The prep work in the design of it. The background painting, the details, even the chiding and the additions from the locals who come into the restaurant. I have learned alot in doing this mural. From painting horses, to laying down railroad ties to set a locomotive on it. All of the things in between have made this an interesting "on-the-job-training" for me, and helped me understand what can work on this large scale canvas. I hope that any of you who have been looking on, have picked up something from this WIP.

As I tried to do earlier, I will be putting up the final pics and then the full murals in my next post. That will be it for this particular mural. I have more to do for this client, and I am checking on another restaurant today to see what they are going to have me do. Then in one month, I will be going to Indiana to paint some murals there. I think I have started something good here!

Well I will stop here, and go download the last pictures of the mural to get them ready to post. Take care all!

Terry

Jakeally · #99 07-28-2003, 02:17 PM

Thank you so much for taking us along with you Terry. I have enjoyed every moment

I am so happy that you are getting so much more work now and the best of luck with your future Murals.

coolray · #**100** 08-01-2003, 10:27 AM

Jakeally,

Thanks for looking on! I have some more pix here, and I will post them, I am stitching the mural photos together and will have them ready soon.

coolray · #**101** 08-01-2003, 10:29 AM

Here I am hard at work.

coolray · #**102** 08-01-2003, 10:30 AM

Every artist should put himself into his work!

coolray · #**103** 08-01-2003, 10:31 AM

This was one of the best parts of the mural! I always wanted to paint a train!

coolray · #**104** 08-01-2003, 10:33 AM

And here is the last single pic. I will post the whole wall pix soon!

Jakeally · #**105** 08-01-2003, 01:08 PM

WooooooWoooooo....great train Terry.
Golly I hadn't actually grasped the scale of the mural until you posted this picture of you painting it.....It really is GIGANTIC .
What an achievement

Salute to our Partners