September 9th, our 26th Painting Session

Vero Beach Mural Project Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club (http://www.verobeachartclub.org/ )  Created by Artist Volunteers Judy Burgarella, Dawn Mill and Christine Thomas.  Stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room."  Visitors welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.Today there was just Christine and myself, as Dawn is still on vacation.  There was a tremendous downpour in the afternoon and we were glad to not be a part of that.  By the time we left at 5:00 it had stopped.

We got set up and discussed elements of the mural, then got busy.  Christine painted in a couple of extra divers then changed her mind and painted them out.  This is a common occurrance with this project, one doesn't always know what will work out or not, and sometimes we have to repaint.  I'm finding that with acrylic many times it has to be painted over 3 coats in order to get the opacity and depth of color needed.  However it depends on the pigment, as some have more opacity than others, and if you mix the right ones together you may only have to paint it one time.

Al Gustav and his wife Mary stopped by so that I could take photos of his beautiful handmade wooden chair and bowls for insertion into a Vero Beach Magazine ad for the Artists Guild Gallery.  Doug Bruce of Vero Beach Magazine stopped by also for a moment.  Willi Miller, writer and radio personality, stopped by to see the mural again.  She is an ardent supporter of the arts, and that is her "beat."  Rob Slezak, Director of Recreation Department, whose office is in the Community Center, stopped in periodically and marveled at the newest elements of the mural.  Although it seems like progress is slow, each newly painted element helps to bring the mural to life, and adds to its enchantment.

Sue Dinnenno and her friend Theresa stopped by with her cute little white dog Phoebe, so that I could photograph her walking her dog and paint her into the mural. A very fitting tribute to one who is the past president of the Vero Beach Art Club, and has always been so vital and dedicated to the art community of Vero Beach.  We lunched together at Beach Bum Bagel (Yumm!) and then got back to work.




Christine Thomas showing Panel #4 to Theresa and Sue, Pheobe (dog) looking on

Below is Christine's Panel #4, which she has been "tweaking," and now is working on the Manatee Zone sign.  Christine had been a sign-maker in her worklife, along with other interesting occupations.

Shown below is the lower left portion of Panel #1.  Today I enhanced the little tree, fixed Judge Stikelether's neck, hair and hand, positioned Alma Lee Loy on the grass, painted a tree trunk into the edge (leaves lightly scumbled in), and painted a hibiscus (sort of floating in the air ... but hey, it's just a mural!).  Actually this panel is a continuation of the large mural painted in 2001, which pictured a hibiscus at its edge, so this is a continuation at exactly the same height. Other enhancements were accomplished also.  Next time I will move the street in front of the train to make enough room to paint the new Alma Lee Loy Chamber of Commerce building.


Lower left side of Panel #1 detail, by Judy Burgarella



Not sure if Dawn returns Monday, but we will.  Wonder what we wll accomplish that day?  Visit this blog Monday night (er, ah, maybe Tuesday) and see!

Judy Burgarella

Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club