October 14th, our 36th Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club, and created by Artist Volunteers Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/)  Dawn Mill and Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com).   Examples of artists' work can be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/) The Mural consistes 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 was a pretty productive day for the three of us.  We all worked on our final panels, leaving our first panels just a bit unfinished.  Although we all were yawning a good part of the day, we trudged on mixing the day with paint and sarcasm as usual.  Time flew, and before we knew it it was time to pack up.  But in between we had a couple of visitors who thoroughly enjoyed their stop, and one or more of us always stops to take the time and explain some of the old and some of the new murals. 

Below is Christine working on her final panel, mapping out divers, turtles and other critters.  She's got big plans for her final panel, and we each enjoy hearing the other's ideas, sometimes adding our own to theirs.  Christine and Dawn's panels are intertwined so their collaboration is essential and co-dependent on each other's design.



Christine Thomas mapping in her final panel, underwater divers and critters


The following picture shows Dawn concentrating on the fencework/porch in the back of the Driftwood Resort on Ocean Drive.  Shown in the background are the businesse along the west side of Ocean Drive, rendered expertly by an excellent draftsman.  She'll be painting in turtle nests and other critters and more bathers soon.



Dawn Mill painting in the wood work of the Driftwood Resort


Below is Dawn's panel #5, looking more and more like Vero's section of the Barier Island we all know and love.  Dawn plans to project all the wonderful things to do and enjoy in this small slice of paradise on panel #5.

Dawn Mill's Panel #5, Ocean Drive, Dunes and Beach


  Today I finally got to paint in a critter.  Below are a mama and baby raccoon peeking out from a dead treestump which I also painted today.   At the base of the stump is a partially completed lantana shrub, one of my favorite Florida wildflowers.  The stump will be the perch for other animals and birds, which I will figure out over the weekend.  Lots of research materials to pour over.



Judy Burgarella's first critters painted in on Panel #2


Below is pictured today's progress on Panel #2.  Also started is a strangler fig scumbled in around the palm tree in the foreground. 



Judy Burgarella's Panel #2


Well, that's it for now.  Be sure to check this blog out Mondays and Fridays now as each painting session more and more critters start marching-crawing-hopping-flying and -slithering around our canvases!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project