April 2nd, Our 66th 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 Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.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," 2266 14th Avenue, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Today the three of us were painting, which was great.  Barbs, snide remarks, jokes, etc. were a part of our day once again, along with long silences spent with brush in hand and focused on our work.  People who do not paint can't know how much concentration goes into the process:  How much paint?  What color?  How to mix? Which brush? ...and so many other unknowns while creating a work of art.  It is quite a challenging situation, but when it all comes together it becomes such a joy, one that gets better as your skill and comfort level increases.
Anyway, back to the blog.  Dawn was busy all day painting in mostly shells, talk about a challenge.  She had a myriad of images to choose from, but was sure to pick the ones that, if critters lived in them, they would be from this area.  I can picture children fingering the shells to try to pick them out of the canvas they look so real.  She also tweaked some birds and a few other elements, and blocked in a floating bottle and began work on foam at the water's edge.  She mentioned the names of the shells which I have forgotten, so you will just have to enjoy the view without the names.



Dawn Mill's Panel #5, showing new shells and birds

Birds roughed in on Panel #5 by Dawn Mill

 Christine only had a couple of hours to work because of her job, but she got quite a bit done in that time.  Lots of new fishies around the manatees and into the seaweed.  Her crab really stands out against the dark rock.

Christine Thomas' Panel #5 with addition of many fishes



   Christine's panels, below, may seem a little fuzzy, as the light in the area of the room where Christine paints is not as good.


Close-up of Christine's fishes



Close-up of Chirstine's fish

Dawn suggested that I extend the clouds across the top of the canvas, and to add another cloud on the bottom right side of the sky, and she was right.  Itt looks a lot better, and not contrived.  Today I added lightning and an ibis also.  Additionally, I worked on the Hispanic woman and child, the girls on the bench (which happen to look a lot like my kids and grandchild?), and tweaked other elements.

Judy Burgarella's Panel #1 with addition of lighning and flying ibis.

Below is a photo of me trying to paint an ibis in the sky upside down.  It was the only way I could reach that section of the panel.  However, it came out good enough to satisfy me.

Below is the ibis I painted into the sky.

Below is a frog that I put in panel #2--great fun to do, however the blade of grass he's on could use a little tweaking.

There will be no painting or posting Friday, as the Community Center is closed.  So check back on Monday and see what's new!

Regards,
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project