Ogden Wall results in drama

The Ogden Elementary School Mural was originally intended to be designed featuring local landmarks such as the Burnt Bridge Creek railroad trestle and the Walking Bridge over the creek. Different animals found in the area were also featured. In May and June 2014 I outlined the design on the wall of Davis Landscaping's donated storage building at the intersection of SR500 and Fourth Plain/Andresen Road after priming the surface of the building, which took a few days. I used paint pens to outline where the student helpers would be painting, with the help of student painter Ben Houston. As I had to leave town, I did not get a chance to paint with the students, and the teacher in charge, Carol Patrick, took it upon herself to not only go ahead and paint over some of my design, (there was a little girl waving from the railroad trestle side of the image on right; which the teacher felt was promoting unsafe behavior) but to entirely finish the project without giving me or anyone involved credit; even further aggrandizing her ego by calling the local news while I was out of town and broadcasting what a generous act they had participated in. Never in all of my years as an artist have I been treated so shabbily and with such disrespect; I truly feel sorry for her students who look up this backstabbing egomaniac. The finished product was not what would have resulted had I been involved, but I still feel it should be posted as I put a lot of work into designing if not painting it, and it has indeed worked in its original intent to deter graffiti artists from the area. Thank you to Davis Landscaping for your support!

Anyways, on to bigger better things!

Progress and new lines!

The last few weeks have been revealing the design and elements behind this project, and with assistant Ben H. lending a hand, we are not going full steam ahead on this project. Next will be to paint the highest regions that are extremely difficult and dangerous for students to reach, and to get the mural ready to paint for the Ogden students. The Montana paint markers I utilized for the outlining are working GREAT, and Rodda paint has been terrific, donating paint and even delivering it to our mural site! Thanks guys!!

Progress continues

Here's a shot of the outlining that my great assistant and I managed to do in 5 or so hours...amazing what a little help can do! So grateful for this experience...

The writing's on the wall....

After two goes at designing the Ogden Project mural, we have a winner: a 100-foot panorama featuring two architectural elements: The 87th St walking bridge and a boy fishing off of the bridge at left, the Burnt Bridge Creek trestle at right, and in between a running stream, with trees, mountains, and wildlife such as an eagle soaring overhead, mallards flapping down below, raccoons and otters mid meal, salmon jumping from the stream, coyotes, and a big Great Blue Heron to boot. This ambitious, realism-based design was chosen by the fifth grade class at Ogden, and now the process of getting it on the wall begins!How appropriate is it that the eagle appears to be soaring over the chainlink fence? Hoping these flimsy signs will soften the hearts of would be taggers who keep muddling my primer!C'mon guys, do it (or don't do it) for the kids!