About this project

The Sunland Mural Project: 
An Unforgettable Experience for 550 Kids! 

The Sunland Elementary School is a Title 1 federally assisted school in South Phoenix and they've asked me to help them create an unusual mural. The proposed design is shown below. Unlike other elementary school murals that you may have seen, the Sunland Mural will be highly realistic due to a technique I have developed using layers of transparent paints and brushes or sponges pre-loaded with several colors. This unique process emerged while I was painting over 150 commissioned murals from North Dakota to Michigan. Once I discovered that the technique could be done successfully with beginning painters, I completed 25 of these “hands-on” murals in schools and at public events throughout Michigan. Each student paints a specific area or element in the mural. I tailor each painting experience to match the motor skills of the child and every child from 1st grade on up contributes to the mural. The process is fast and exciting and gives the child a true experience as a painter because the transparent colors mix with the previous layers and with each other. It almost looks magical! As I've done more and more schools, I've also learned a few interesting techniques from the students like dripping and splattering! The film shows a short demonstration of transparent layering, paint splattering, photos of students painting, and at the end, a few school assemblies. I hope you enjoy the film!

550 Students at the Sunland Elementary School will receive the following if we reach our funding goal:

• Four 50 minute School Assemblies where Katherine will demonstrate the painting technique the children will be doing on the mural. Katherine will also talk about her career as an opera singer, muralist and children's book illustrator and show images of her artwork from school age to the present day, including original illustrations from her southwestern books. She will also tell of her adventures traveling the southwest in search of just the right reference photos for her illustrations.
• Katherine will do a demonstration of live opera singing.
• The completed paintings done during the assemblies will be donated to the school.
• Sunland School will receive a completed 30 foot exterior mural depicting local desert plants and animals painted by the students under Katherine's guidance. Each child will participate in the mural. 
• A final coat will be added to the mural for UV protection and longevity.
• A mural reception will be held at the completion of the mural where the children can get photos taken with Katherine next to the element they added to the mural. The mural will be located in an outside corridor which will become an "art walk" as students add art tiles to the opposite wall. Benches are also located at the site for mural viewing.
• If funding is reached, the mural will be completed before the end of February 2012.

Please help us reach our goal. If the pledges do not reach the goal by the deadline, no money will go to the mural, and all funds will be returned to the patrons. 

It is my wish to continue to help children in creating their own masterpieces and to share my passion for the arts during the process. Art can be powerful and life-affirming, but human interaction is life changing. 

Thank you for taking the time to view our video and please feel free to visit my website for more information about "Hands-on" murals. We appreciate your support.