I got to the library at 8:45 to survey the lay of the land. Muddy. Significant log. Big roots to NOT trip over. What’s that weird little box on a pole? Could it be a Little Free Library, right here at the library?
After I unloaded the ladders, I realized that the wall was full of spiderwebs and dust.
When I was almost finished wiping it down, the representative from the Arts Consortium showed up, along with my intern. There was a little bit of paperwork; I gave Intern some jazz about not being able to sign his name in cursive, and Rep had to tell him that his last name initial was needed. (“Kids these days. . . sigh”, thought the old artist.)
Intern was helpful. I was able to teach him a little about starting a mural, using various tools, deciding the order to proceed. He learned about measuring and translating the scale of 1/2” = 1’, along with using a plumb line and a square.
We started with measuring the wall, to be certain that the measurements and proportions matched the approved design. Next, we taped off the insets.
Intern wasn’t dressed for painting, but he was really careful, and we painted the skies.
Intern was a hungry cold boy, so he left for lunch and I began the green base coat.
When he returned after his lunch, we finished the green and I painted some dirt base coat.
What will I do today? I will be on my own, because Intern has end-of-term projects to complete. The library will be open some of the hours that I am working, so I will be able to store my equipment and supplies until Friday. But they don’t open until 10, so I will be starting later on Friday.
The logistics of this job are rather intricate and challenging. I’m not surprised, because it took 3 years from when the county supervisor asked me to paint this mural until I am actually on the job.
9 Comments
Why did a painting intern show up not dressed to paint?
Jim, I wondered the same thing!
This is going to be an amazing mural, but wow, it looks like such a daunting thing to do! I can tell that you know what you’re doing, and I’m glad you have an intern to help!
Michelle, it is surprisingly challenging to break the project into tasks that I can assign to an intern. I’m learning to adjust the order in which I proceed, saving the easier tasks for him.
Good luck with this one, Jana! The design is beautiful, and it’s a really nice wall for it, but the work “schedule” is a pain, and it’s a long drive in the fog. The librarians and the library patrons will love this when its finished! Happy Holidays! What a great gift to the community. Watch out for those roots!
Laurie, I love the drive because Lomitas is one of my favorite roads and the rest is just pure nostalgia, revisiting the area of my childhood. But it is COLD!
Ha Ha Ha! I hear some schools are reintroducing cursive writing as part of their curriculum–good news! Did you know cursive handwriting helps stimulate good brain health? Look it up! Here’s just one article:
https://www.howlifeunfolds.com/learning-education/case-cursive-6-reasons-why-cursive-handwriting-good-your-brain
I’m surprised the Intern even knew what “cursive” was. Or did he?
Sharon, Intern was slightly insulted when I implied that he couldn’t read cursive! “Of course I can read it—I just don’t know how to write it!”, said he.