Mural Arts Training Program - Phase 1 complete!

every wednesday for the past 6 weeks i have commuted from Brooklyn to Philadelphia (back & forth, same day) for the official training program of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. though it's been grueling to say the very least (greyhound express in my face twice a day shouting "you get what you pay for stupid!"), i've learned a TON! my teacher David McShane was fantastic and my classmates were all very cool. it was well worth all the time and discomfort in transit, as i am one significant step closer to my goal of being a muralist and professional public artist. now that the weekly night class portion is over, soon i'll be volunteering as an assistant, painting and installing some murals in Philly later this spring and summer. in addition, i'll finish my mural design and 5x5 foot detail painting for a group exhibition at the Mural Arts Program's Thomas Eakins House Gallery in mid June (details to come).

i'll post more after the opening in June, but here's a few random pics from the Thomas Eakins House's neighborhood (MAP headquarters) and MAP's studio space at Market East & 9th street:





my proposed site and mural idea: Chaconia (national flower, aka "Pride of Trindad and Tobago") at Nostrand Ave & Herkimer (Brooklyn):





mural detail painting in progress (and a bomb chik-fil-a sandwich):