Note to self: No more
designs with lines on the background! I knew it was going to be a pain in the
butt because I’ve done it before, so what was I thinking…. It looks cute, yes, and
it’s a good way to paint a partial wall, but on this particular surface with
its crumbly texture each line took me almost an hour to finish and there are 15
of those, so that’s a lot of line painting. (And no, masking tape was no
option.) They turned out not even that straight! (The walls fault of course,
not my painting abilities!).
And after painting
many a dog, I didn’t think that four kittens would be a big deal, but they took
me much longer than expected. Why? I guess because they are much smaller (just
a little taller than my friend Judy) than the figures I usually paint, because of
the space’s requirements. The mural is located in a corridor where people pass
right by. There is no space to step back and take the painting in as a whole,
so too big a design won’t work. Typically a restricted space requires smaller
and more detailed images that take longer to paint. That answers the frequently
asked question why I generally charge more for a “regular” painting to be
framed and hung in the living room than a much bigger mural.
I must admit I’m so naive to think that after having painted dozens of murals I’ll never get
surprised, but of course I’m proven wrong each and every time (and I guess
that’s one of the reasons I like creating murals so much). This time I thought
it would be an easy one, done in two days, not even needing a ladder, but it didn’t
work out that way. Not just because of the lines and details but also because
it wasn’t easy working with the adorable Kittens (the human variety that occupy
the classroom) running around or hanging from my neck, as adorable and
inspiring as they are. I even learned to say “cat” in sign language” (Thanks
Abner!) and the adorable Melanie was happy to see me back the second day,
telling me grammatically incorrectly but very poetically: I saw you tomorrow!
Anyway, mission
accomplished, the Gatitos are happy
with there kittens on the wall and that’s what matters most. Ready for the next
one! The Universe is on our wish list, we only need to find a sponsor and we’re
ready to continue! (We only need another $250!)
Thanks a million to my
good friends Suzanne and Cita van der Linden who never ever forget about these
whereabouts and are always willing to help, this time generously sponsoring the kittens’
mural. Also thanks the staff of Brillo de
Sol and of course those kittens in kindergarten.
Los Gatitos mural painted outside the kindergarten classroom at Brill de Sol; San Gaspar Vivar, Antigua Guatemala. 6.5 x 1.6m. March 2016
For more information about Brillo de Sol: www.brillodesol.org
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| (Foto by Letty López) |
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| (Foto by Letty López) |
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| (Foto by Letty López) |
