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Health & Fitness

Painting Outside the Box

Here's my version of painting outside of the box.

The title of this post is really true, I was literally painting outside, on a box—a traffic box. This was a stretch for me as I usually paint small paintings inside the comfort of my small home studio.  

I was excited to have the opportunity to do this, so I decided I would have to get out of my comfort zone and take on the challenge.  

The traffic boxes in Gilroy have been steadily getting a face lift. It is an anti-graffiti, beautification project guided by Rachel Munoz, city of Gilroy anti Graffiti officer.  

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Local businesses and organizations are sponsoring the painting of the traffic box of their choice. The sponsors choose the theme then the artist creates the design. Most of them have been done by Santa Cruz mural painter, Bruce Harmon.

Bruce does an amazing job on all his murals and was also very kind about sharing information and tips on how to transfer the design, the type of paints he uses and how he goes about it. When the city decided to tap local Gilroy artists to paint them I submitted my designs for two.

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The one on the corner of Santa Theresa and Welburn was being sponsored by the Gilroy Foundation. They serve all of Gilroy, so they wanted a landscape describing the beauty of the entire Garlic City.

The second box I took on is at the corner of 7th and Monterey streets, next to the Gilroy Center for the Arts. This one was sponsored by Nick Franco who owns Franco Market. A lot of his customers work in agriculture and he wanted a "spice of life" theme.

I thought it would be better to start the easier one first, easier because it has only three sides and was on the corner close to my house. It took me about five-and-a-half days to finish. I didn't spend full days on the traffic boxes because it was so hot in the afternoon and my paint would dry out.

It was fun because there is so much traffic there, that I got lots of encouraging honks and waves. It was close to the road, though, and it was hard to back up and see my work. I get into another world when I'm painting, and I don't want to back into a busy road, so I had to be aware of where I was.

The second one at the art center had way more space around it. It also had four sides that needed to be done so it took me six-and-a-half days to finish this one. I really like this theme especially, it was a blast to paint all the fruits and veggies so huge. Then I had fun giving it some flying-creature tattoos, like butterflies and such.

These are the pros and cons of painting the murals, for me.  

The cons:  

  • It's very, very hot and sometimes hot and windy. So it was hard to keep my paint moist. When it started feeling like I was painting with sticky gum I had to call it a day.  
  • Traffic noise and stink. Occasional bug getting stuck in the paint. Murder on my paint brushes, they did their job but are toast now. 
  • Oh and yes, the worst part—I had to wear a bra!

The Pros:  

  • The biggest benefit was each day my dad and mom, who are their eighties, would come and my dad would tie up a huge umbrella for me to paint under. At the art center they would bring me lunch each day and we would sit under the big tree and eat together. I love them so much. 
  • It was also wonderful to hear the many Gilroyans being excited that this was being done, by waving, honking and giving me thumbs ups and encouraging words as they walked, drove by or as they waited at the light.
  • A couple of really kind ladies brought me a cooler full of drinks for me to choose from. Same ladies did this at both murals. One little girl was suddenly in front of me with a cold bottle of water, then she thanked me and ran off.
  • The final great part is that I really thank the universe that this commission came to me at this time.  

I am on to my next two projects, painting 13 original paintings for the Gilroy Garlic Festival. These will be gifted to the GGF Cook-off judges and contestants.  Then painting for my own art booth at the festival. So when it seems daunting, I just have to think, I am here in my studio, no sun beating down, no wind, no cars, fresh wet paint, NO BRA ON, it's all good!

You can see the daily progression of the traffic box murals on my blog, Original Art by JoAnne Perez Robinson at blogspot.com  

By the way, if you are out and about, check out the Barn at Hoey Ranch located on Hecker Pass Highway. I am happy to have a collection of small paintings there.  I really like the easy-going energy this magical place has. It is full of wonderful vintage finds and Debbie and Jim Hoey give it a really great vibe, not to mention the beautiful spot it's at.

I also have a collection of small paintings at the Fast Frame Gallery in Morgan Hill. I think my work fits here, too, as Leah De Lane's shop is also cozy and warm and full of local art. 

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