The Visual Diary:
A Mural Project
Introduction
In 2020 I created 2 murals as an experiment. The goal was to create an expressive body of work and eventually create a habit of working on it. I didn’t anticipate just how much I would enjoy the process. Afterward, I felt motivated to do another mural that would push me to showcase different elements in the art.
Fast forward to my postgraduate summer of 2023. My current mural was falling off the wall - I was impressed with how long it stayed up.
Since the first mural, I realized how much I valued storytelling. From reading, watching movies and shows, and hearing other personal narratives, I had a greater appreciation for it. I was inspired by what Austin Kleon wrote in Steal Like An Artist about making your sketchbook and journal personable. I leaned into that in my other projects and my outside work. It became imperative to me to make sure the next mural I did was just that; leaning into that personal narrative.
I tore the other mural down, stowed it away, and installed a new canvas for me to work on. It was symbolic to me and represented something after being in school for the last 2 decades; new beginnings.
Previous Mural Project done earlier in 2020
The Nomad: A Mural Project done in 2020
Methodology
Having a large, blank canvas in front of you is daunting at first. Where do you start? What do you put on here? What happens if I mess up?
I took a new approach to this project; embrace the mistakes.
As a struggling perfectionist (the first step in acknowledging the issue), I didn’t want to mess up. Whenever I sketched and messed up, I would rip the sheet, bawl it, and throw it away. Even in my personal life, I’ve tried to wait for a perfect moment. I had fears that if I had done something too early or late, it would jeopardize everything. That was until I realized there was no perfect moment. Perfection doesn’t exist.
If I made a mistake with this mural, I would lean into it and problem-solve on the spot.
I had that down. The next approach I took was utilizing sources of inspiration. I had songs, albums, lyrics, caricatures, quotes, thoughts - anything I stored was up for grabs. Two albums heavily influenced this mural: Cheat Codes by Danger Mouse and Black Thought, and Chris Black Changed My Life by Portugal. The Man
Cheat Codes by Danger Mouse & Black Thought
Chris Black Changed My Life by Portugal. The Man
Lastly, I wanted to be in the space to work on this when I felt a strong emotion. Whenever I had strong feelings, I acted on it. I learned that throughout the process from Rick Rubin.
Those were the approaches I leaned into creating this mural.
Process
I started in one corner and moved around to the next.
Anytime I had the urge to write something down, I did. A lyric, a thought, an epiphany - anything that resonated with me I made sure to jot it on the canvas.
I also wanted to include imagery that was relevant to me at the time. I had created some of my caricatures, but I also included references from films, media, and cartoons. Those allowed me to have some pops of color in the mural. My last work was mainly monochromatic with hints of red, and I wanted to diversify it this time.
I had a playlist created called Storyboard that fostered all the relevant tunes I wanted to play while creating this work. I altered and changed some of the songs in the playlist according to what made sense.
Outside of those, I mainly worked with the same mark-making patterns I had created before and pushed them further. I would vary the strokes, play with the ink, and shoot for an organic feel that made for a cohesive experience overall.
While I planned to shoot for the end of 2023 to complete the work, I took extended breaks between sessions. What was crucial for me was returning to work when I was in the right headspace, not forcing myself to do so. A lot of the methodology and process echoed into areas of my personal life too. In a way, I grew and learned with this project and took away some lessons I still think about.
Application of
the Sources
Around June, I had a small corner left to complete the mural. What stopped me from finishing the mural was acknowledging that once I painted that corner, the piece would be done. It hit me that I enjoyed the process more than the mural being done.
So for weeks, I tried to figure out the best way to complete the mural. At the same time, I was reading The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. He shared a lot of wisdom about approaching creativity in the book, and it’s been a fun read for me. One of the highlights from the book mentioned acting on inspiration. Rubin detailed how to utilize and find inspiration in creating your work. One way was having a song on repeat.
Radical Optimism by Dua Lipa
For the last few weeks, the one song I’ve had on repeat is These Walls by Dua Lipa.
Late at night while listening to the song, I kept listening to the lyrics which go,
“But if these walls could talk, they’d say “enough” they’d say “give up”. If these walls could talk, they’d say “you know” they’d say “you’re f****d”. It’s not supposed to hurt this much! Oh if these walls could talk, they’d tell us to break up.”
For some reason that just stuck with me. I went on a walk the following morning and returned home. I got my materials and went to work to finish the corner. That’s when it hit me:
The wall I had been working on for the last few months had been talking. If this wall could talk it would say all these things I had been putting on it. It wasn’t just the words, it was the images too, everything played a part in the story I had wanted to tell for the last 9-10 months.
In that epiphany, I came to several conclusions:
Rick Rubin is a genius
These Walls by Dua Lipa is going to be my favorite song of the year
For the first time in a few weeks, I had truly felt like an artist. To me, that was peak creative genius.
The Finished Piece
Conclusion &
Final Thoughts
After I finished the mural, I sat back and looked in amazement. I was challenged with many feelings, from the bittersweetness of completing the work to the joy I had from a moment of creative genius. I’m proud of this piece and what I was able to accomplish.
This mural represented more than new beginnings. It represented my growth not just as an artist but as a person too. This was a reminder of the new journey I have embarked upon. It’s a reminder to roll with the punches, embrace the mistakes, continue thinking outside the box, and be fearlessly authentic. Of all the work I’ve created, this holds a special place in my heart and portfolio. I want to challenge myself to act on creative ideas, be expressive, and continue crafting the story I want to share in my work.
The task of the artist is to simply recognize the transmission and stay with it in gratitude until it truly runs its course. - Rick Rubin