Murals & Wraps | Cope Aesthetic

Murals & Pubic Art: Murals

A chance encounter during a high school art class planted a seed in my mind for painting public murals. That seed germinated into a dream that was realized when painting my very first semi-public mural ("Ladies Night", Imurj, Raleigh, April 2018) and every mural since.

In mid 2020 I began working with other muralists be it as collaborators, volunteer or crew and in 2023 I began attending muralist meetups to paint with other muralists in the US and abroad.

Storm drain mural at Eubanks Park & Ride, Chapel Hill, NC.

My concept is inspired from reading "Algae in Stormwater ponds and wetlands" from the Town of Chapel Hill's web-site. While the visual concept is presented as a vibrant and whimsical scene, featuring flora and fauna interacting with the storm drain, it draws upon the importance of stormwater ponds and wetlands in water pollution treatment. The concept style, particularly the water and a water slicked tunnel (drain) is in direct correlation to what I learned of the algae and algae blooms. Of course, "blooms” leads me to think of flowers especially since it is spring and flowers are blooming all around.

This couple wanted a three wall mural in the garage showing their three porsches painted on a racetrack with the Grandstands as a backdrop. The porsches in the mural are their actual vehicles. We photographed each of them on the road in front of their house then painted them from the reference photos we took.

Painted with: Colleen King @CreativityUnlimitedKC (lead), Brooklyn Edsal (assistant) @Brooklyntheartist96, Danielle Doetsch (assistant) @danielledoetschart.

This three walled children's storybook style kid's room mural was commissioned by grandparents for a spare guest room they used for their visiting grandchilden, one boy and one girl. Both grandchildren are represented in the mural along with their interests. For the granddaughter it's horseback riding and she is featured on Trigger, the horse owned by her grandparents at this home. Next to Trigger is Mama, the grandparents donkey. Their cat Mao is featured in the scene as are typical wild animals and small planes. The grandson is featured on a four wheeled atv which is his favor-ite interest. The other animals are representative of the ones seen regularly around the property. The small plane sky writing is also a regular site above that area as there is a small airfield nearby.

Building mural in Clayton, NC with the Clayton River Walk on the Neuse theme showing active people.

Moveology's mission is health, wellness, and support of active people. It's located in downtown Clayton with Sam's Branch Greenway Trailhead easily accessible to the downtown area. The theme of this mural active people with the Clayton River Walk on the Neuse as the setting. Some of the characters are inspired by actual people and dog I filmed on the greenway. When I later googled activities that could be done in Clayton I found fishing and kayaking and knew they could be strategically placed amongst the other activities within the same scene as the people being active on the river walk.
Crew/volunteers: @scottchesnuttart @elifloart @sarahsparkle_arts @friti.llary @tommy_the_weird

Painted this Andrea Ehrhardt mural for and with Andrea in the gymnasium of Hollister High School in Hollister, Missouri. The tiger is the school mascot. This was the second of two "tiger" murals painted in their gym. It was a rush job as the Hollister Tigers had a really big important game happening the day after we finished.
Painted with: @artbyandreaehrhardt @Marhleeny @jeremiahjgill

This was designed digitally, printed to vinyl and wrapped on the electric box at the corner of Johnson and Glenwood Ave.

As part of a 12 member muralist cohort selected to train with the Community Mural Institute in Morganton NC, I learned how to create community engaged murals, with information sessions, surveys, and community paint parties. We projected concept art onto polytab panels, numbered those panels to match color swatches selected for each mural, hosted 2 community paint parties for residents of Burke County to participate in painting the polytab for each mural. Then we learned the install technique at the walls while installing 3 murals around Morganton, NC.
African American Mural at 205 Sterling St. Team lead: @djm_visualartist crew members: @burtonartcollection
@bespeakdesigns
Southeast Asian American mural at 101 S Green St. Lead artist: @kmuiii crew: @shainasart @artby_sachi @mia_loia
Essential Worker Mural at @industrialcommons 647 Hopewell rd. Lead artist: @ianbrownlee crew: @kenjy737
@neerperfection @copeaesthetic.design
Install teaching crew @isaiah.ruhe @mr.twogoobs @goodspacemurals @common.wealth.murals
* The above photo is the purple team/Essential Workers mural at The Industrial Commons and @tossafter

selfie style mural painted during a muralist meetup at the Symmetry Oasis Jungle Retreat in Montellano, Dominican Republic.

This stain-glass inspired mural was created collaboratively at a Mural Meetup with twenty+ other artist members of the Artist Academy Advanced from all across the United States and Canada. We all worked together on this mural then broke off into smaller groups to paint three other murals and sixteen wayfinding signs installed around the retreat. Top image: panaramic view of wall. Bottom image: detail view of main focal point (the whale).
Painted with: @artbyandreaehrhardt @happylittlepainter @Michelle.hollender @aimeejoy.art @brooklyntheartist96 @courtney.clarke.designs @mollybrahmerart @danielledoetschart @artbyshanna731 @AmeighArt @rich.marks
@sarahoceanartist @creativityunlimitedkc @kaynickantiganano @dani.roma.art @artbysamanthacox @jerseygirl
@a.o.day @chelseablosil @artby_katie_childers @barefootanddoodles and the children of the owners.

Stained-glass inspired murals painted during a muralist meetup at the Symmetry Oasis Jungle Retreat in Montellano, Dominican Republic.

This stain-glass inspired mural was created collaboratively at a Mural Meetup with twenty+ other artist members of the Artist Academy Advanced from all across the United States and Canada. We all worked together on this mural then broke off into smaller groups to paint three other murals and sixteen wayfinding signs installed around the retreat. Top image: panaramic view of wall. Bottom image: detail view of main focal point (the whale).
Painted with: @artbyandreaehrhardt @happylittlepainter @Michelle.hollender @aimeejoy.art @brooklyntheartist96 @courtney.clarke.designs @mollybrahmerart @danielledoetschart @artbyshanna731 @AmeighArt @rich.marks
@sarahoceanartist @creativityunlimitedkc @kaynickantiganano @dani.roma.art @artbysamanthacox @jerseygirl
@a.o.day @chelseablosil @artby_katie_childers @barefootanddoodles and the children of the owners.

This circus themed graphic novel style portable art installation was created as a project for Chatham Arts Council JumpstART. It tells a story related to a broader theme of jumpstart with a twist on the corporate motivational poster showing how a support network boosts one up.

Each character's characteristics are inspired by drinks ordered during a brunch date in the early stages of dating. Those drink names became cute pet names during the courtship. This mural is meant to embody the beginning of that love story and represents the first meeting and early courtship. As it is a visual symbol for the beginning of a love story, easter eggs and iconography are employed to add special touches with personal meaning to the animated scene. I wanted the background to have visual interest without distracting focus from the characters in the foreground.back-ground patterns to be organic shapes painted in monochromatic colors so it wouldn't compete with the characters in the foreground.

Sidewalk mural painted for Downtown Art Beats small art interventions. When I applied to this call for art. It was suggested that my pop-art style piece featuring a figure with blue hair and layers of flat color in the background would work really well in the medium they would be providing. I was asked if I would like to create something similar. Of course, I was thrilled for the chance to do so.

Which makes the inspiration for this mural one of my intuitive paintings titled "Go With The Flow" - a colorful form with whimsical design elements to pique the imaginations of those gazing down at the ground when they walk by.

Concept

My aim was to create a character that one might see while walking in Raleigh. My hope was to infuse a little fun via vibrant color and imagery onto the path of pedestrians walking along the sidewalk as they navigated their way through downtown Raleigh. I wanted them to stop and say “wow!” rather than blindly passing by.

Note
Given that I have a graphic design background vs. fine arts my style of painting people resembles animated characters more than realistic portraits of human beings.

In the artwork I admire most artists depicted people in a style completely their own using exaggerated forms and non-descriptive colors. Like those artists, I prefer to capture the essence of the character that hopefully elicits a positive emotional response. I like when people tell me they look at my paintings and feel something as a result. So it is true with this character, I wanted people to look at her and feel happiness.

When painting a mural at Imurj in April 2018 the highest compliment paid to me was that others saw themselves or people they knew when they looked at the figures painted in the scene. That’s what I want for Flo’. I look at her and am instantly reminded of at least three friends. Not because her features resemble them physically but because there is this spark I see in her that I see in them. I love that spark in them, and I love seeing that spark in her.

Final Thought
For me personally, I see a character infused with my own inner spirit.

After walking down a flight of stairs at the Fashion Show Mall on the Las Vegas Strip (December 2019), and looking back up to discover the #TheFutureIsColorful painted risers I was transfixed.

That staircase and another one at the same location inspired me. I knew I too was going to paint stair risers and the perfect ones to start with were the ones leading up to my home studio.

Concept: The colorful patterns were influenced from years of travel to other countries where decorative patterns adorn architecture, pottery, art, fashion, furniture, and other items.

In fact, my first attraction to talevera tile originated from a fascination with pottery I found in shops around Italy during trips there (1997 & 2001). Other influences from those trips include mosaic tiles I saw in the ruins, particularly the ones in Pompeii.

Later travels to Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and Greece expanded my adoration of the decorative patterns found on architecture, pottery, tiles, and the like in those countries.

Prior to coming up with the concept for this project I researched Italian, Greek, Moroccan, Spanish, Mediterranean, Mexican Talavera, and some Islamic tile patterns.

I found the ornate lines and shapes in purples, greens, oranges, blues and yellows against a gleaming white background appealing and decided that aesthetic would work best in the hall with the walls painted yellow.

Initially, I thought about hand-drawing Zentangle (a workshop I had taken in 2017) patterns for each individual square “tile” but a friend suggested I try stencils to make it easier. After creating an assortment of Zentangle, Zendala, Mandala, and border patterns to practice I realized she gave me sage advice and opted to heed it.

The first stencils I tried were pre-cut versions purchased from Etsy to test out before purchasing more materials or equipment. With those stencils I explored a couple different paints, selecting acrylic paint pens as my medium of choice for this project.

Being my first project of this kind, studies on canvas gave me a better grasp of the tools and informed my color combination preferences.

Having completed the project, with a heightened understanding of using stencils to aid the process, I decided to invest in a craft cutting machine so that I can create my own unique patterns to use in future projects.

Murals painted (one incorporates polytab) during a meetup in Rogersville, Missouri and installed/painted at a Wheatland school in Wheatland, Missouri July 13-15, 2023 by twenty-two members of the Artist Academy Advanced.
Painted/installed with: @artbyandreaehrhardt @mollybrahmerart @creativityunlimitedkc @brooklyntheartist96
@artbyshanna731 @danielledoetschart @consciouscreatress @art.by.andi.levin @gracenestorlouie @cathywilburnart @muralfl @ad_artist_studio @lindsayraync @emyva_designs @belovedartdesign @artbyleahbenson @ally.roseart @_made_by_angelica_ @najerabopp @theezeasel @marhleeny

A garage mural for a man who liked mopar cars, cigars, whisky, bourbon, and throwing darts.

A work in progress photo from a stairway mural at a home in Hillsboro, NC.

Painted while crewing for Darlene McClinton a mural artist based out of Greensboro, NC.

Volunteering with Max Dowdle, director of NC Public Art and primary muralist, to paint a mural supporting the military as part of the new Spring Lake Art Trail. You can read more about his project on his website.

Wood panel mural on the windows at Bishops cuts/color.

This mural opportunity was was right time/right place. I was on my way to Imurj in Downtown Raleigh, to retrieve items I had in their store on consignment, when the they made a post about donating a mural to Bishops and asked if local artists would be available to help get the plywood mural finished. I responded then was invited to help Bethany Studnicky, former Director of Arts and Exhibitions of Imurj, paint some of the colorful stripes on her piece while another volunteer (Dylan @iconmasterpieces on IG) also painted stripes in addition to adding "equALLity" to one of the panels.

Originally, inspiration came from charcoal drawings I did at this venue during drink and draw nights. (01/16/2018, 11/29/2017, 10/18/2017, 10/17/2017)

But as I considered development of each character, inspiration came from observing the people in that space: the employees, artists, art supporters, community, and attendees of various events.

The same is true for the band in the upper corner. It was inspired by bands that were performing while I was painting the mural.

Concept

This mural was my visual way of expressing "Y'all are Welcome Here" and "Y'all" means everyone. It was just as much about immigrants, gay rights, and the bathroom law as it was about embracing all races, cultures, religions, and genders.

The women I painted were meant to reflect the myriad of users of that stall. They could be Transgender/gay/bi/lesbian/straight and identify as she/her or whatever. In fact, while working on the first character a trans woman was ecstatic I had included someone she felt represented her.

Her response inspired me to represent other groups too. The second character I painted evolved as she did because during the time period I was painting, an exhibit being installed on the main gallery wall was for artists over sixty. That is why the hair for the second character (far right) is in shades of grey and she is wearing fancy readers. While painting the third character the venue was rented by muslims from the Lighthouse Group for an event. I decided at that point my characters should represent them so I clothed her in a hijab. The fourth character was inspired by the burlesque shows performed in the space as well as the performers themselves who modeled for us during drink and draw nights. The fourth character is meant to be nondescript. Since the other characters exhibited sultry feminine and modest qualities I thought it fair to include one who was more masculine.

As for the band and stage they are loosely painted with minimal detail to suggest the vibe of the space without stealing the show (so to speak) from the ladies in the forefront.

Originally, inspiration came from the call for art, the rest came during the research and discovery phase while looking into what made Benson unique.

Concept: Located half a mile from the crossroads of I95 & I40, makes it a natural hub for commerce and area gatherings. Agricultural and farming are highlighted with the team of mules, tobacco, and sweet potato farms. The cultural draw of Benson is represented by the singing figures, musical instruments, and a violinist. The railroad and train fill the right side of the mural as significant to Benson’s establishment and ongoing growth. Historical buildings and local landmarks include the State Singing Convention, Benson Museum of Local History, Mary Duncan Public Library, and the oldest Mule Barn.

ListView

Murals and Wraps:

Communication Board, installation: Quilted Needle Fabrics LLC, Pittsboro, NC, October 16, 2024.
Racetrack Porsches, installation: Private residence, Overland Park, Kansas, July 2024.
Storybook Woodlands, installation: Private residence, Pittsboro, NC, May 21 - June 1, 2024.
Let Flowers Blossom, Not Algae Bloom, installation: Eubanks Park and Ride, Chapel Hill, May 1- 13, 2024.
Stained-glass Whale, installation: Symmetry Oasis Jungle Retreat, Montellano, Dominican Republic, October 25 - 29, 2023.
Stained-glass Turtle, installation: Symmetry Oasis Jungle Retreat, Montellano, Dominican Republic, October 25 - 29, 2023.
Monarch Butterfly, installation: Symmetry Oasis Jungle Retreat, Montellano, Dominican Republic, October 25 - 29, 2023.
Logo & wayfinding signs, installation: Symmetry Oasis Jungle Retreat, Montellano, Dominican Republic, October 25 - 29, 2023.
Essential Workers: Honoring the Workers Who Help Our Community Thrive, installation: Morganton, NC, July 2023.
Wheatland School Murals, installation: Wheatland, Missouri, July 13 - 15, 2023.
Raleigh. The Journey & The Destination, installation: intersection of Johnson and Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, NC, June 9, 2023.
CBD RV, installation: CEFA, 8424 Old Statesville Rd., Charlotte, NC, March 7 - April 6, 2023.
Tiger, installation: Hollister High School, Hollister, Missouri, February 25 - 26, 2023.
Tiger Eyes, installation: Hollister High School, Hollister, Missouri, February 24 - 25, 2023.
Movement, installation: 215 East Main St., Downtown, Clayton, NC, November 5, 2022 to December 23, 2022.
Little Victories, wood panel (Diptych) moveable mural installation: Pittsboro and Chatham County Welcome Center, Hillsboro St., Pittsboro, NC, November 5 -17, 2021. Installation: Chatham Arts Council, Main St., Pittsboro, NC, December 10 - August 10, 2024.
Mopar Man Cave, garage mural installation: Private residence, Pittsboro, NC, April 2021.
Greetings From Benson, installation: Team Collaboration for the Town of Benson's first public mural, Main St., Benson, NC, October 6 - November 6, 2020.
Queen ~b & Smoky Fox, installation: Private residence, Pittsboro, NC, September 2020.
Faux Tiles, installation: Private residence, Pittsboro, NC, August 11 - 29, 2020
Flo', installation: Salisbury Street for Downtown Raleigh Art Beats. November 2018 See the ABC 11 feature by Robert Judson.
Ladies Night, installation: Imurj, downtown Raleigh, NC, April 2018 - September 2020.

Would you like to speak to me about a project but want more information first? Try the FAQ section. Still have questions? Feel free to contact me.

Murals & Pubic Art: Murals

Murals and Wraps:

​