June 22nd, Our 94th 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 Christine was painting by herself again, and below are a couple of critters she worked on.  Christine said she also worked on her surfer, but wasn't ready to share it with the world yet.  Yeah, hey there Christine ... look out--the world is watching! 

So here's some more "finishing touches:"

Seagull - looks like he's taking a dive!l

Christine's seagull, in the context of his surroundings on Panel #5

Turtle life . . . an integral part of the shoreline in Vero Beach

Well folks, that's all for now, just dribs and drabs until the mural is completely finished, tweaked and installed.  I'll post as more work is done.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 20th, our 93rd Vero Beach 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 Christine was painting by herself, and boy did she get a lot done!  I guess we gab too much, but I bet she was lonely.  Anyho-o-o, below are some great pics she sent me to post ... enjoy!

Fishing boat by Christine Thomas in Panel #6

Fishing boat with sailfish

The "Aida"

Baby turtle by Christine

Baby turtle by Christine



Turtles by Christine Thomas

 Well, that's all folks.  I may pop over to see them paint or help out on Friday if time permits.  The mural is looking great, and we can hardly wait to show it off to y'all!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 18th, our 92nd 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 fun and productive, and although I had not planned to do anything additional other than tweaking the Hispanic mom and child's face, I ended up painting a monarch butterfly.  Dawn tweaked most of the day, although I think she painted in a few things after I left at 2:00.  Christine painted in a beautiful sailfish, which is pictured below.

Christine Thomas' Sailfish on Panel #6

Sailfish picture under the rising sun

Picture of our workspace, with all panels up to be tweaked

Dawn finished up this section of Panel #4

Below Dawn worked on improving the transition between Panel #4 and Panel #5, where she felt that the dividing line was too strong.  Looks good now!

Transition from Panel #4 to Panel #5

I was able to get a good photo of Dolce, a pretty little Hispanic girl who works where I teach art.  It really helped to have an image to work off of.  

Hispanic mom and little girl on Panel #1



Little Hispanic girl on Panel #1

Well, that's all for now folks.  I may not work on the panels again until they are installed.  We agreed that we can always do a little more light tweaking on a ladder.  Unless of course they need my help for something before installation.  So that's it until I get some images from the Dawn and Christine, who still have a little more work to do.  I will keep this blog alive through the launch in the fall, and keep you posted on any relevant happenings with this mural.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 15th, our 91st 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 was M.I.A. this Friday, as I had a show, but Christine was painting by herself.  She sent me this pelican that she worked on.  She had him sketchily painted in but now he looks fantastic.   His body spans two panels.  Nothing much more to tell you about the mural as I have scant information, but here's Christine's pelican:

Christine Thomas's pelican on Panel #4

Monday I hope to work on the murals if possible.  As long as they are set up and Christine is working still, I'll go and tweak a couple of things.  Perhaps put beautiful Dolce's face on the hispanic mom with child.  Dolce works at the gated community where I teach painting., a really sweet girl.

So check back and perhaps there will be more interesting posts yet to come.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 13th,our 90th 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 painting, although I had to leave by 1:30 to teach an art class.  We did not rush through anything, although there were long quiet times when we were busy.  Had lots of conversations about a myriad of things, and did a lot of laughing in the proces.  Dawn painted some of her outside edges, as did I, and we both worked on temporary protective corner covers (booties) and painting the spots where we removed the year-old protective tape which took the paint off the corners.  Earlier tonight Christine sent me pics of the finished shuttle and clouds on panel #6 that she did after I left, which made me very happy because now that all the upper parts of the panels are finished we can have Rob's crew install them in the Community Center's Florida Room either the end of this month of beginning of July.  A whole year has passed and it's amazing that no significant damage has occurred to any of the six panels.

Friday's painting session, which I missed because of a show, was productive, the photos of which I have already posted.  However, Chirstine modeled for me her new invention which helps her arms from getting tired because of holding the palette for an extended period of time.  Below is her invention ... which cracked me up! (Certain ample body parts assist in the function of this ingenious invention)

"Cigars, cigarettes, cadmium orange, cobalt blue?

 


What the . . ?



Christine, with her "Palette-Assist" invention.  Actually it works pretty good.  Too bad she had no rope!

Christine in our work area

Christine's Panel #4 with ibis flock finished

Shuttle and sky area by Christine

Dawn working on painting the edges, with the old mural in the background

At day's end this is where we squirrel them away for the week.  Weekends Rob brings them to his office for safe keeping.

 Well folks, that's it for now.  Almost there.  I have a show Friday so won't be at the mural, but perhaps Monday, so check back after that to see if everything's finished and posted.

Ciou!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 8th, our 88th 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.


REGULAR VISUAL POSTINGS OF PROGRESS FOLLOWS AFTER THE BELOW IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

DONATIONS NEEDED TO FINISH AND PROTECT

THE VERO BEACH MURAL

The Vero Beach Mural Project is nearing completion and will be installed at the VB Community Center at the end of June.   Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club and created by members Dawn Mill, Christine Thomas and Judy Burgarella, additional funds for this project are needed to purchase protective covers for both the old and new murals, and make adjustments to the old mural.  Please consider sending a donation to the Club to help finish this gift to the City of Vero Beach, which will be a lasting legacy from the members of the Vero Beach Art Club.  

As the Vero Beach Art Club transitions through some austerity issues as other clubs have in these challenging times, we muralists would like to put out an appeal for help from the art-loving public.  Funds are needed for the Mural Project for the following reasons:

1.         To purchase clear Lucite protectors to cover the outside edges of the old and new murals.  The old mural is beginning to show signs of damage, as the Florida Room in the Community Center is used by adults and children alike for a variety of activities

2.         To purchase three 6’ wide by 2’ high custom stretched canvases for the replacement of informational inserts (legends) on the old mural (see photo below), which interrupt the flow of the paintings.  Our plan is to continue the painting pattern of the mural on the new 6’x2’ canvases, and install these legends over the doors between the two murals, making an informative transition between the old and new murals.  Muralist and fine artist Merena Cadorette has graciously consented to paint them for us. 

All muralists have donated their time for this very worthwhile project, which is a priceless legacy from the Vero Beach Art Club to the City and people of Vero Beach.  

Twelve years ago members of the Vero Beach Art Club completed the mural, “History of Vero Beach,” which has been on view in the Community Center ever since.  In June 2011 under the direction of Dawn Mill, one of the original muralists, she, Judy Burgarella and Christine Thomas began a new mural depicting the habitats of Vero Beach, also measuring 36’ x 8’, which will be installed across from the old mural and will transition into it.  It is almost completed, and you can follow the progress from start to finish on this blog by simply scrolling to the bottom and clicking on “older posts,” which can be viewed all the way back to its beginning in June of 2011.  We have devoted most Mondays and Fridays to this project for a year.

Please consider donating to this very worthy project soon so that we can proudly launch its debut in the fall.   And please indicate within your donation "For Mural Project."

If you need further information please contact either Dawn Mill at 772-567-5828, Judy Burgarella at 772-581-8281, or Christine Thomas at 772-359-8809.

and now to continue the postings . . .


Well, I've been M.I.A. again Friday, and am now posting Saturday for Dawn and Christine.  I had an art show to prepare and set up for the Sebastian River Art Club, so did not pitch in with the mural that day.  I am calling my panels done, although there were other things that would have been fun to paint into it or tweak.  Further tweaking can even be done after the panels are installed, but it will have to be done on ladders.

Christine and I observed that we both have improved in our mural painting skills since beginning this project over a year ago, and some of the elements we painted in at the beginning are not quite as striking as the later ones.  Hopefully I will pitch in next week if needed, or at least stop for pictures for some final postings before the canvases are permanently installed.  So Christine took some pictures with her phone which came out pretty good, and here they are:

Flock of Ibis flying on Panel #4 by Christin Thomas

White pelicans on the shores of the Indian River Lagoon on Panel #3 by Dawn Mill

White Egret in flight by Dawn Mill on Panel #3

Opossum family in newly-enhanced foliage on Panel #3 by Dawn Mill

These finishing touches are so important to the overall look of the mural project, and will help to make it more entertaining, especially for the children who will be enjoying it for years to come. 

Stay tuned for the final finishing touches!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 6th, our 87th 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, Wednesday June 6th, was our third painting session this week, as we worked Monday and Tuesday also, putting the push on finishing the mural.  I continued painting the sides of each panel, which is very time-consuming as so much color mixing is involved.  And making more protective booties for the corners too.  I finished the sunset on panel 6, the last panel.  Christine will finish out the sky on the left side, bumping in some sinrise glow on the Space Shuttle and accompanying contrail and clouds.  Below is the sunrise along with Christine's turtle.  There will be some baby turtles in there soon, as they float in on top of the water on a bed of seaweed.

Sunrise by Judy, turtle by Christine

I worked until about 11:00 this morning, as it was my turn to man the Artists Guild Gallery from 11-3:00, so Christine and Dawn painted without me.  Christine just sent me the below photo of an opossum family that Dawn painted in on Panel #3--so-o-o cute, in a scary kind of way!

Oppossum family painted in on Panel #3 by Dawn Mill

  More to come, as I find the other images on 3 devices plus whatever other pics Christine sends me.  Oh, and one of the devices is my old camera, which I finally found today at the Artists Guild Gallery.

OK, got the pictures, and below are a couple of photos Christine had taken from her i-phone ~

Panel #3 - Hummingbird painted today by Dawn Mill

More Eel, painted by Christine Thomas today

Below are more photos taken earlier in the week, which did not get posted due to time constraints.

Christine painting sign on Panel #4

Flock of Ibis sketched in by Christine Thomas

Christine has added divers in the distance in Panel #4

Christine has bumped up the color on her diver

On Panel #3, Dawn Mill has added a duck family

Moorhens Dawn has added, along with more reeds in the water of Panel #3

Judy painting top edge of a panel - so bo-o-o-r-r-ing!

This is where (below) our panels are propped as we work on them.  Sometimes we must get them off the floor and prop them on chairs or tables to minimize backaches.

The muralists' workspace

Pictured below is where we put our panels out of harm's way during the week.  Even so, we worry about the many activities that go on in this room--children with hoola hoops, dancing, acrobatics, with table and chairs moving around, etc.  Then when the weekend comes there are all types of shindigs going on in this very busy building, and the panels must be carried through hallways, up stairs onto the stage and placed leaning against a wall behind the piano.  The piano is on wheels, so we always hope that no one pushes it into our panels.  On some weekends when the stage is being used, Rob Slezak, the Recreation Director, must carry the panels down narrow hallways and store them safely behind locked doors in his tiny office. 

We are very grateful for all Rob's and other staff's efforts in trying to keep the canvas panels out of harm's way for a whole year.  Not a minor inconvenience for them.  And now, so close to being installed, we're almost there.  They will be beautiful and interesting, and will look spectacular along with the other 36' mural with both of them reflecting in the mirrored wall opposite from where they will be installed.

So stay tuned for the finishing touches.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 1st, Our 84th 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.

Our working area

Today we had all day to paint, although tonight was the Gallery Stroll on 14th Avenue (11 art galleries) so we had to cut it a bit short to pitch in with the Artists Guild Gallery opening.  But a lot was accomplished, and we are so-o-o-o close to being finished.  Although there are many images I would have loved to clutter up my two canvases with, I'm calling it done.  So I spent the time today painting the sides of everyone's canvases, rather roughly following the patterns around the edges.  I got a little fussy in case the panels are ever shown by themselves.  The first and last panel sides will be totally visible when installed, so I took special care of that.  I also made "booties" out of heavy clear vinyl and duct tape for the corners, to replace the brown tape I had used when we started this project, almost a year ago.  The brown tape had to be removed in order to finally paint the corners.  Canvases have been jostled around an incredible amount of times, actually moved 2 x 84 or 168 times, not including the many times we had to shuffle them around for a variety of reasons.  We're not complaining, but it's been an incredibe amount of work that could only be done by three friends who paint alike and get along.  How rare is that? And we're better friends now than we were when we started--even more rare.

Anyhoo, we joked about my being the chump who is done but now has to do the grunt work of painting edges and making booties, and I made fun of the fact that I'm done and they're not.  All in good fun, and I did manage to squeeze in some time to paint this cute little turtle in between making booties.

Turtle by Judy Burgarella

. . . which is nothing compared to Christine's fabulous sea turtle flying through the ocean!



Christine Thomas' fabulous turtle, with another one in progress

Christine's underwater world is stunning, and her energies need to be devoted to that, so I will try to scumble in the sunrise atop her panel next time. 

Christine Thomas at the canvas, creating her own little underwater world

Dawn is in the process of painting a duck family and they are coming along nicely.  A few more tweaks then she'll move onto her opossum family. 

Dawn Mill working on her duck fmaily near the water's edge

 Installation is scheduled the end of June, if all goes well and manpower and supplies are at the ready.  We can hardly wait to see the canvases up and on display all together.  A shindig is being planned for the fall when things lively up a little and people come back to their own little piece of paradise.  We are tossing around ideas for legends, binders or the like, to explain and elaborate on the many images we've painted.  To see this year-long project come to an end is pretty exciting for us, considering that we've devoted most of our Mondays and Fridays (and some other days) to the mural.  We're pretty proud of it, and hopefully the City and the Vero Beach Art Club will take pride in it too--it's quite a gift to the City of Vero Beach. 

There may be a call for donations if needed, as we realize that both the old mural and the new mural could use some protective lucite covering on the bottoms and corners.  Scratches and scrapes can be seen on the old mural, which we plan to repair.  There are other needs regarding the mural, but more about that later.  For now, if anyone would like to see us at work before we wind up the project, come by the Community Center Monday or Friday, best time is between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  You'll see that it's been quite a productive year.
Ciou!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project