storybook mural

Mural at Kester Elementary in Van Nuys, CA (31’ long x 7’-8" tall) showing children reading under a tree - to inspire kids to read - with abstracted images from the books Charlotte's Web on the left (for older kids) and from Where the Wild Things Are on the right (for younger kids). The school requested this theme and these books (I don’t personally support copying other artwork). My original design was on the local flora and fauna, to teach kids about their environment.

I designed it to transition from daytime to nighttime, in line with the books, and drew it and then UCLA student volunteers did the first pass of painting the shapes in with colors I mixed for them. I later returned and spent a lot of time to finish it, adding a second coat, completing or changing shape outlines, redesigning some areas, and doing the grey linework that gives the mural depth.

This was a volunteer project through L.A. Works.

storybook mural storybook mural idea sketches storybook mural pig and rat from charlotte’s web cover image of charlotte’s web storybook mural storybook mural detail with me for proportion storybook mural storybook mural storybook mural design sketches monster from where the wild things are boy from where the wild things are monster from where the wild things are ucla volunteeers painting mural ucla volunteeers painting mural ucla volunteeers painting mural storybook mural color studies ucla volunteeers painting mural storybook mural design sketches ucla volunteeers painting mural storybook mural outline strokes study mural painting utensils original mural sustainability local flora and fauna design
Idea of transitioning from daytime to nighttime.
Phone photo by UCLA student volunteers.
Me in white directing.
Phone photo by UCLA student volunteers.
Color studies.
Phone photo by UCLA student volunteers.
Phone photo by UCLA student volunteers.
Linework studies.
Original design on the local flora and fauna, to teach kids about their environment, changed on request.