When Rob & Lynn reached out to me about painting a mural for their family's home in Holgate, NJ, we had an immediate connection. Rob's family had been vacationing on Long Beach Island since the 1980's and he was now renovating the family home. Rob & Lynn had a vision to create a fun and inviting entry full of special memories for everyone who walked through the front door. The mural was to cover the walls of the foyer, including over the doors and trim to create an uninterrupted panoramic beach scene that extended up the stairs to the main living area. We talked about memories from Rob's childhood - skim boarding, surfing, lifeguarding in Holgate, memories of dad reading a book on the beach and mom at her easel painting her next masterpiece. This mural was to be a special one, and I was excited to get started!
The setting was a fun challenge, with all the turns and differences in elevations
I started the process as I always do, brainstorming ideas with my clients and creating a mock up to give an idea of what the final result will be. This particular setting was especially challenging with all the turns of the stairs, and differences in elevations. I did a lot of redesigning once on site to get the proper flow for the scene, and the end result was spectacular!
Unlike many murals, where you take in the whole picture all at once, this one is somewhat of a journey. As you walk through the foyer and work your way up the stairs, you have to stop to take in the little details throughout. This one tells the story of a loving family, and their memories of LBI
In addition to the specific details representing the family members, I enhanced the composition with things such as "Old Barney", the Barnegat lighthouse and the end of the Island. A beautiful blue heron in flight, a common sight along the Jersey Shore. And a pair of sandals left by the dunes, waiting for their owners to come back from a walk along the beach. The owners fell in love with the blue heron, which is strategically placed at the top of the lower level stairs, serving as a focal point as you continue your journey through the scene. Rob & Lynn have since made the Blue Heron the symbol of their home.
Because of the difficult nature of photographing this mural, I created a video documenting all of the details. You can view this mural in its entirety here.
Thank you, Rob & Lynn, for sharing your stories and trusting me with such a meaningful project.
Σχόλια