When a client said she wanted a mural depicting a river confluence scene in her St. Louis home I was excited at the challenge, as the city of St. Louis itself is situated at the juncture of the mighty Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The mural would be in the front hall of the house, welcoming visitors into the client’s newly renovated home. We decided on a landscape painting, symbolic of the area, not necessarily showing the actual St. Louis river confluence. The mural would depict an undisturbed natural setting, an expansive view of a river valley from high above a hilltop clearing or bluff (see early rendering below). It would wrap around 3 walls of the foyer, viewable from multiple rooms including the dining room and living room. The formerly white drywall front hall would be transformed into a truly one a kind St. Louis space.
Read MoreSt. Louis Forest Park Dining Room Mural: Process
In a residential dining room in St. Louis, I had the opportunity to paint a four walled landscape mural inspired by Forest Park, the 1293 acre public park that lies at the heart of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The process of researching and designing the mural was a fascinating excuse to spend time exploring this St. Louis civic treasure.
Forest Park opened in 1876 and has hosted many noteworthy events, including the 1904 World’s Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition) and the 1904 Summer Olympics. Today, it is home to many St. Louis attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center and the Missouri History Museum. It also boasts two golf courses, extensive bike and jogging paths, and the MUNY, the nation’s largest outdoor musical theatre venue. The park has undergone extensive restoration in recent years and is experiencing a new renaissance as a much beloved public amenity for the citizens of St. Louis.
From the beginning, the process of designing the mural was a collaboration between myself and the client.
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