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