I was thrilled to be asked to return to Ready, Step, Grow day care to paint some new murals for their new classroom this past week. Miss Debbie and Mr. Chuck are two of my very favorite clients. They always have a really cute idea as inspiration for the wall, colors in mind, and then just trust me to make wonderful things happen.Their teaching and caring methods are very faith based, and since the work I do is also faith based- it’s a good fit for us all.

 

We met briefly the week prior to discuss the project, allow me to see the space, the wall and colors and figure out pricing and how much time I would need to do the work. Formerly a two car garage, the space was converted to a classroom for the five year olds as they prepared for Kindergarten. This wall is directly across from the door the parents would enter to drop off and pick up their children- a good focal wall. Miss Debbie thought that a little town mural would be great, complete with all kinds of buildings, lots of color, roads, and vehicles driving around the town.

The first day was spent mostly planning out the ‘roads’ and buildings, but I did start laying in some colors in the late morning to afternoon.

On the second day, I was able to block in most of the colors and add the windows and doors. The style I was going for was simplistic, childlike and cartoony with some familiar businesses and buildings for the children.

The third day, I added in some fun details, layered on more colors, highlights and a few vehicles the children would recognize. I also clued Miss Debbie in to my idea for naming and addressing the buildings so she could be prepared for the last day.

The last day was spent drawing in outlines and details, adding the final touches to really make the mural special for the staff, families and children. Since this is a faith-based day care, favorite scriptures are used as building and business names, and the chapter and verse became the addresses. At first glance, it really isn’t obvious, but it’s a nice detail that really gives this mural a powerful meaning to these little Town Murals.

Such a fun project to paint for the kids! When I was done, Miss Debbie had a few of the little ones come in to see the final work- they’d been asking about it all week. They loved it! This was one of those jobs when I got paid three times- a big hug from Miss Debbie and shy smiles from the little ones, a nice check for the work and knowing that I’d used my gifts to serve God.