brightening a school...

This will be my third year being a mural artist for NY Cares Day. It's one of my favorite projects because anyone can participate. Last year, I worked with over 100 volunteers and it was an absolute blast. The year before that, I was primarily with my friends (that was fun, and thanks to all who participated!). I'm not sure how many volunteers will participate this year, but I am very excited about my sketches.

Admittedly, at first I was very nervous about this year's project because we have a very talented art teacher on board. He and his students have already painted incredible murals throughout their school and I didn't want mine to pale in comparison! But then I remembered that this day is more about the volunteers and giving them an opportunity to feel creative and helping others - so I've sketched some ideas that can be easily painted (with a paint-by-color system) and that incorporate major artists.

These are still a little rough, but I think this will be a fun project!

Cafeteria~ The current cafeteria has these wonderful paintings of historical figures in a cafe. I wanted to continue this theme, but opened it up to being an outdoor cafe, leading into musicians playing in central park. From there it turns into a more music/Harlem themed mural. I looked up some different Harlem Renaissance artists. I wanted something colorful and lively - I looked up William H. Johnson and got the idea of the dance. This will lead back into a cafe in front of some live music by Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington on piano. I left the cafe part open, so the volunteers can draw in more characters on their own.

Stairwell~ To continue with the theme of artists, I thought it might be nice to go with George Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon". I'd like to keep a few of his elements, but again, allow the volunteers to add in more modern types of people. It might be a neat idea to ask the kids who they'd see in the park, and we could draw their ideas as well. This tree will go up the stairwell and lead into tree. I'd like to create our own version of Gustav Klimt's "Tree of Life". The tree will continue with his circular pattern, but I'd like to incorporate different types of typography and inspirational words. This isn't sketched out as clearly, but hopefully this explanation helps. In the background of the tree, would be iconic landmarks around the world including the Eiffel tower and the NYC skyline. This is yet, another opportunity for volunteers/kids to add more of their own thoughts.