May 30th, Our 83rd 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, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 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.

I missed posting a few times due to my camera being lost and not being up-to-snuff on my hubby's camera, so I failed to get pictures of our progress.  But I finally figured out how to get the pics off and into my computer so the blog's back in business.

Today I arrived late and Dawn and Christine were busy at work.  And today was a short day because the room was booked, so we had to pack up at 2:30.  The girls had painted yesterday without me and got some neat things accomplished.  I will post some of the interesting details further down the blog, but for your viewing pleasure below are all six panels as of today.




Panel #1, Downtown Vero Beach by Judy Burgarella - Just about done

 


Panel #2, Pine Scrub, Sandhill, Hardwood, Cypress Swamp, Western Vero by Judy Burgarella - Just about done

 

Panel #3, Cypress Swamp, Lagoon by Dawn Mill - Just about done

Panel #4, Lagoon by Christine Thomas - Few more little fishies and it's done

Panel #5, Dunes and Beach (and buildings on Ocean Drive) by Dawn Mill - Just about done

Panel #6, Vero's Coral Reef by Christine Thomas, 95% completed

Below gives you an idea of the scope of the project, with Dawn hard at work painting.  The panels are heavy and cumbersome, difficult to maneuver but we have developed muscle enough to easily carry them around and together lift them onto higher ground (chairs & tables) to paint the lower edges.  All who handle them must be careful not to scrape or bump the fragile edges, which up to now we have kept covered with protective tape.  The sooner we get them installed the better. 

Panels #1 through #6 in their work area of the Florida Room in the Community Center

Below are a few of the things I worked on on Panels #1 and #2

Detail of Panel #1 - Mockingbird

Detail of Panel #1 - Mom and child

Detail of Panel #2 - Mary and Rob Slezak watching eagles in nest

Detail of Panel #1 - Squirrel

Panel #3 - Bobcat cub by Dawn Mill

Panel #3 - Bobcat Cubs by Dawn Mill

Detail of Panel # 6 - Christine's fabulous turtle

And there were other details that were painted in within the last three painting sessions which are too numerous to post here.  We will be working again on Friday so check back again - and please note that the Downtown Gallery Stroll will be Friday 5-8 pm right on 14th Avenue which is where this mural resides! 

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

May 25th, Our 80th 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, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 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.


Well, sorry to say, I have either lost or misplaced my camera, and so I was unable to take any photos of the mural, and today all three of us were working on it ... darn!  However, no new critters or people were completed, it was mostly a day of "cleaning up," and by that I mean correcting mistakes, enhancing, painting all outside edges, and planning our finishing strategy.

Christine worked on her diver, and some colorful fish, and did a little research on her computer.  Dawn expanded some of the Barrier Island and extended the mangroves to better break up some of the blue water.   I was happy with having repainted the blotchy asphalt, which was a big paint-around job because people were scattered around on it.  I finished all the foliage at the bottom of Panels 1 and 2, and painted the outside edges of both, especially making sure the left side of Panel #1's elements wrapped around as the edges will be viewable when it is installed in the Florida Room.  I removed the protective corner tape from the bottom of my panels and painted the corners, then replaced it with clear vinyl corners which I had made.

Other than a 1-1/2 hour interruption on my part for a meeting off-site, we mostly painted until 4:30, taking a quick break for the lunch we'd brought.  This is so boring without pictures, so I will sign off for now.  Hopefully next week I will have wonderful photos of at least one COMPLETED panel.

Ciou!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

May 21, Our 79th 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, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 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 all three of us were once again together working on the mural, and although it was a short day we managed to get some serious work done.  Our day was shortened to 2:00 pm because the Florida Room was reserved.  So we worked straight through lunch to conserve what working time we had.  It was very pleasant though, and I missed that interaction this past month and a half during my absence from the mural.  The day flew by, interrupted with conversations about family anecdotes and drama, trouble, chuckles and discussions about the mural.  Problem areas are now almost resolved, and the rest will be the icing on the cake.

Below is Dawn painting fish in the mangroves of the Indian River Lagoon. 

Dawn Mill painting fish in the mangroves

Mr. Crab was painted by Dawn also, and resides in Panel #5.

"Mr. Crab" by Dawn Mill

Dawn did an outstanding job on the backs of buildings on Ocean Drive, and this particular detail is of the Driftwood Resort, a very popular place built mostly of driftwood and found objects d'ocean.  An ecclectic-lover's dream!  The resort's restaurant, "Waldo's," is a treasured taste of old Florida that tourists and natives alike enjoy--music, food, cocktails, entertainment--and all with one of the best views of the ocean.

Dawn Mill's painting of the Driftwood and Waldo's patio

While I was absend, Dawn painted some dynamite birds, and the pelicans I especially appreciated as they are all around us every day along the Indian River and beachside.

Penical tri-fecta!  By Dawn Mill

Dawn Mill's pelican in Panel #5

Below Dawn has roughed in an expansion of the barrier island to better balance off Panel #4.

Detail of Panel #4

Christine painted in some fish schools and worked on some unfinished elements, in addition to the diver below. 

Christine Thomas working on her diver

Christine Thomas's diver in panel #4

Some of the day I spent reworking the perspective on the Vero Furniture building.  I was told it was off-kilter, which was spot-on.  What a tedious job it was to paint out all the easternmost windows, pine tree foliage, roof lines, etc., but it does look better.  Below I am pictured working on an orange tree, tweaking it so that it will fit in with the last panel of the old mural, just in case they are ever exhibited together. 



Judy Burgarella touching up panel #1

Below is the orange tree I worked on a good part of the day.  Coming from Connecticut where fruit trees general blossom--the blossoms fall off--then the fruit buds and grows ... it seems strange to see orange blossoms blooming at the same time the fruit is ripening.  And oh the fragrance!  I love it when that wonderful fragrance wafts into the bedroom at night--it's like dozing off in a bed of flowers.

Oranges and orange blossoms together on a tree in Panel #1

 Others pictured here are Pilar Turner, Mayor of Vero Beach, Alma Lee Loy, a prominent Vero Beach Figure, Jay Kramer, former Mayor of Vero Beach and Highwayman artist Ray McLendon,

All three of us plan to be at the mural on Monday, so check back onto this site for more progress after that.

Ciou!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

May 18th, our 78th 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, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 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 I was all by my lonesome, as Dawn and Christine were otherwise occupied with obligations, but I got to the Community Center at about 9:00, and after setting up got straight to work.  I worked out a plan of action last night, and although I did not follow it completely it kept me kind of on-track. 

Below is a photo of Panel #1, which I worked on all day.  With a little more tweaking this panel is done.  I adjusted the foliage and river on the left edge of the canvas to match up more perfectly with the last panel of the old mural, just in case they are ever installed in another location and butted up against each other.  While I was at it I refined the foliage and structures south of the Indian River Lagoon.  The Alma Lee Loy Chamber of Commerce Building is almost complete, sans its porches.  I repainted the "Downtown Vero Beach" monument as the perspective was all off, and painted in a passionflower vine which is one of my favorite Florida flowers.  Had a wonderful time painting the happy little doggie, which I named after my dearly-missed Yorkie, Scooter.  I am relieved that the lower right-hand portion of this canvas is finished, as it was an unattractive distraction to this panel.

Panel #1 by Judy Burgarella - Almost finished!

The children will love this little guy.  Such a pleasure to paint a happy face looking back at me.

"Scooter" - detail in Panel #1

Pictured below is the Chamber of Commerce building, named after Vero's beloved Alma Lee Loy, who is pictured as part of a conversation group on this panel.

Alma Lee Loy Chamber of Commerce Building

The one thing I did not enjoy today is painting the lettering on this sign.  All the photos I had taken were not of the right angle as it was impossible to get that angle from where the monument sits on 20th Street.  Freestyle lettering is done by repeated reduction painting, which is painting the lettering, then tweaking the background, repaiting the lettering and repeating until it's acceptable.

Vero Beach's Monument on 20th Street

Below are panels #1 and #2, the fruits of my labor for way too long, but finally we see the end.  Dawn's and Christine's panels also have so many wonderful animals, plants, fish and other fun things--it will be very exciting to see the whole mural installed in the Community Center, opposite the older mural.  We are brainstorming on ideas in which to launch this work of art, so stay tuned.

Panel #1 and Panel #2 together

Below is the mural that was created in the year 2000.  One of the muralists was Dawn Mill, who is now our project manager.  This is a great-looking mural, and ours will be a wonderful addition to it.

Mural created for the Community Center in 2000

Below is a copy of a mural that was completed earlier than the year 2000 mural.  It was a beautifully-rendered painting of superb composition, but unfortunately it has been lost.  No one seems to know where the original is.  Dawn stated that the original was in very poor condition, so perhaps someone discarded it.  If anyone who reads this has any information regarding this mural, please contact one of us.

At 4:30 it was time to leave, so took some pics and packed up, with a sense of accomplishment.  The day really whizzes by with a paintbrush in hand.  We will be painting Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week, so check this blog again next week to see some great progress.  The push is really on now, and with the season slowing down we can put some serious time in as long as the Florida Room is not being occupied.  Please feel free to pass this blog on to others.  Thanks.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

May 16 - 77th 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, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 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 was my first day back at the canvas after over a month and a half absence due to my husband's cardiac triple-bypass surgery.  I did stop by a couple of weeks ago and posted a brief update, but this time I actually picked up the brush and painted!  Dawn joined me, and Christine stopped by briefly and picked up the brush.  It was a short day, as we had to leave at 2:00 due to another event in the Florida Room of the Community Center.

Although Christine only spent about a half hour painting she got to tweak Panel #6 in several areas.  Below Dawn is painting the sides of her panels getting them ready to be installed, hopefully soon.  The mural is probably about 98% done.  Some finishing touches will be needed (many as repair) after it is installed in the Community Center.



Dawn Mill (foreground) and Christine Thomas


Christine's critters are so cute I decided to post them today - so here they are:



FISHERMEN, CRANES AND OTTERS---OH MY!
Detail of Christine Thomas's Panel #4



Cute little fishies in a detail of Christine Thomas's Panel #6



Crab in Christine Thomas's Panel #4

 I haven't a clue what the names of some of these creatures are, but we plan on compiling a notebook which will identify every aspect of the mural, to be used as a legend for those viewing the mural. 

Below is the Space Shuttle which is launched from Cape Canaveral which Christine has roughed in.  We can actually clearly see the space shots go off from our front porch in Sebastian, and it's such a thrill.  Best view in Sebastian is at the banks of the Indian River or the ocean's shoreline, with a picnic basket and radio ticking off the launch, enjoying it with other Shuttle-gawkers nearby cheering the rocketship on.  An added bonus to living in this beautiful paradise. 


Space Shuttle, Panel #6, by Christine Thomas


Below is Dawn's Panel #5, pretty-well refined now since the last time I saw it--more birds, flowers, foliage, shells, waves, etc.--it looks marvelous!

Dawn Mill's Panel #5

Some details of Daawn's progress since last posting ~

Dawn Mill's section of Panel #6

Detail of Dawn Mill's Panel #5

Detail of Dawn Mill's Panel #5


And as for me, it was a great feeling to be back at this mural project, although we all (including myself) are eager to get our two days a week back.  Even though we had only a few hours to paint, I was satisfied with my progress.  I worked only on Panel #1 and mostly concentrated on unfinished portions and correcting other areas.  I photographed the last panel of the old mural and tonight butted that up to Panel #1 on the computer to see how it would segue together, in case they are ever installed end-to-end at another location.  I see that I've got a bit of tweaking to do to make them meet up aesthetically and logically.

Judy Burgarella's Panel #1

 
Well that's it for now.  Visit this blog again this weekend and see the progress we've made as we will be painting again Friday.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

April 29th - 72nd 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.

Well, after almost a month-long absence from posting due to my husband's cardiac triple-bypass surgery I am finally able to post some progress on the mural.  Stopped by the Community Center for a quick peek at what Dawn and Christine had accomplished and took a few pictues.  It was great seeing them again, but wished I could be painting too.  Maybe in a couple of weeks.  However, the progress is clearly visible, and brings us closer to completion.  Dawn and Christine have painted about five times since my absence, so I have added that to our number of sessions.  Postings may be sporadic for a while during my stent as caregiver, but hopefully things will settle down in a couple of weeks and I may be able to resume a normal painting schedule for the mural until completion.

Thought I would start this posting with a triptych of the first three panels for your enjoyment, and especially since they were all lined up together against the wall.  So below is Panel #1 and #2 by yours truly, and Panel #3 by Dawn.

Panels 1 & 2 by Judy Burgarella, Panel 3 by Dawn Mill

Below is Christine Thomas (foreground) painting her little fishies in under the manatee, and in the background is Dawn Mill who is working on a group of pelicans.

Christine Thomas and Dawn Mill  working on their panels

Below you can see how Dawn has sketched in some pelicans with vine charcoal (which easily erases afterwards), and she has begun to block in a bird with paint.  Layer after layer of acrylic paint will bring him to life.

Dawn Mill's sketch of pelicans

Pictured below is Dawn's panel #5, almost finished.  From what I can see, she has added more shells, birds, bathers, a fisherman, wonderful foliage here and there, and finished up the shoreline edge.  She'll be adding more clouds soon also.  Looks finished to me!

Dawn Mill's Panel #5

Seagull straddling Panels #5 and #6



 

Detail of Panel #5 - Sunbathers



Below is Panel #4 which Christine has been working on.  She will be painting in a few more divers (seen sketched in with vine charcoal), and toning up the island a bit more.

Panel #4 by Christine Thomas



Christine Thomas painting details of a fish on Panel #4

 Well, that's all for now folks.  There has been some frustrating "hiccups" in this blog today, and time to quit, so stay tuned and perhaps I'll be posting more in the next week or so.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the
Vero Beach Mural Project