January 13th, our 55th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/)  Dawn Mill and Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/) The Mural consists of six 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 are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Today Dawn and I got a late start with both of us having other appointments, getting to the Community Center at about 9:30 and leaving at 3:00.  I had another appointment at 11:00-1:30 so the day was interrupted again.  It is difficult to get back into the groove each time, so this was not a quantity/quality type  of painting day.  However we did get some elements done which were important.  Dawn worked on the difficult area of buildings in the distance on the beach, trying to make them somewhat more interesting than they actually are.  Dawn also worked on the problem area of transitioning bottoms of Panels #4 to #5.  Christine will follow up once she's back with more painterly touches to add to this transition.  I worked on skunks and people on panel #2.  Below are pictures of our progress, albeit not a whole lot.

Pictured below are panels #4 and #5, with the transition looking much more natural.  We strived to create as much logic in the transitions as possble, however each panel represents a different habitat and must stand on its own for the mission of the project.

Dawn Mill's Panels #4 & #5 - Making a smoother Transition

 Aside from Dawn working on the above, pictured below are some additional finishing touches she also painted in on various buildings below.  Christine's vast ocean elements will be waiting for her when she finishes her move, although she is near to completion herself.


Detail of Dawn Mill's beach area and Ocean Drive on Panels #5 & #6



Dawn Mill's Panel #5

I finished up the baby skunk looking over the log and put more finishing touches on the log, although need more scumbling on the right side. 

Detail of Judy Burgarella's Panel #2

Rob Slezak's (Recreation Director) wife is pictured blocked in below.  Not quite done with her yet, but she's shaping up nicely.


Rob Slezak and wife - he with binoculars and she with camera (not painted in yet!)

Judy Burgarella's Panel #2, Western Vero, pine scrub, etc.

With Christine in the process of moving, and with Dawn and I having art shows back-to-back and keeping up with the Gallery (we are 2 of the 19 owner/partners of the Artists Guild Guild Gallery in Vero Beach) we are grateful for down time, which will be Monday, it being Martin Luther King Day and the building is closed.  However we will be back to the canvas on Friday, although leaving early to get ready for Art By The Sea's opening reception in the Vero Beach Museum.  We are both working sales at the show (Dawn is in charge of the hanging) so it wil be a busy day, and an exciting night.  Hope I can scrub the paint off my hands by then. 

So check back some time on Saturday when I'll have posted another bunch of pictures, and be sure to see the Vero Beach Art Club's fabulous Art By The Sea Show, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with an opening reception Friday night from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - wine, hors d'eouvres, lots of artists, and you'll be able to see the fine art of two of the Mural artists - myself and Dawn.  Don't miss it!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project