Day 11 10-28-08

It was a chilly morning and I started painting at 10:00 today. I gave the sun time to warm the wall up. I'm pleased with the progression on the Courthouse. Shading and the fine details are really going to make the building realistic. I roughed in some of the ground to keep the building grounded. I don't like keeping them appearing like they are floating over the grassy noels.

Today I also added another gable to the Civic Center. I had several visitors today. One mentioned attending 5th grade in the Civic Center when it was a grade school. He showed me the window to the class room where he learned that JFK was shot. The buildings selected by the Merchants Association have many memories for all the fine folks raised in Fayette. I enjoy hearing the stories. The mural project is an excellent way to promote the history and tourism for Fayette. In case I haven't already mentioned.....I'm honored to be apart of the project. Thanks to all the well wishers and kind words about the project.

Day 12.....very chilly....updating blog til wall warms up....starting around 11:00 today.

day 10 10-27-08

I started the Courthouse today. Blocking in the main colors. I have been transferring measurements from my sketch that is 1/4 inch scale. Future note.....It will be easier at 1/2" scale.

The Courthouse is such a beautiful structure it can be intimidating. I breakup the details by shapes and orientation to each other to keep from getting overwhelmed.

I had to share my joy. This is Baby Berklee. I'm a Granny now. Allison delivered 2 weeks ago and we made time to visit her in MO this past week-end. So Pretty!

Day 9-10-21-08

Today I started by adding more leaves to the large tree in the foreground. Not having a full top had been bothering me. I then began detailing the High school that was started yesterday. Fine details, side lites in a window for example, are a little tricky because of the texture on the block wall. I also noticed, around 2:00 the brick was getting to warm to blend paint. The paint was drying to fast. I draped my tarp over my ladder to provide shade to the area I was working.

Scaling the Court House was a stage I welcomed. I know many are looking forward to see the rendition this beautiful Architecture. I had a visitor who says she can see the court house from her kitchen window(with a big grin on her face). It truly is a gorgeous structure.

The shading of the trees and the ground planes are going to add to the depth in the mural. My main goal this coming week is to get the main color blocking done. The fine details are really going to make the artwork pop.

Day 8- 10-21-08

I had intended to work on the wall Monday. The week-end required a day to get refocused. So, Today, Tuesday I sketched and scaled off the Old High School. I like adding the unique details to the buildings. The doors of the High School are very nice withe the side lights sweeping around meeting the arched windows above. The brick work is also unique. The columns bridging the gables of the roof line.

Gourd Fest info.

The Cullman Gourd Festival this past week-end was great! So many talented gourd heads and whooo...the admission to the show seemed like it doubled from last years show. Terri Camp, one of my mentors from Opp Alabama and received many awards. She is so talented. At the Dinner on Saturday I was honored to be awarded Gourd Queen. "Gourd on" This is tallied by the total number of points by ribbon winners. I entered 21 categories and received 18 ribbons.

Saturday I also had special visitors to the show. Jerry and Kay Marshall brought Bilbo to visit. Sharing information about Katimine and the dangers to exotic breeds, is a mission for me to help save a life of a loved pet. Unable to locate a large enough box to keep the Gimli & Bilbo piece safe. The rode shotgun to Cullman.

day 7- 10-14-08

The Civic Center now has a body. I was waiting on the brown sugar to paint the body of the building. The few days it only had a roof many where asking if there was a hill in front on the building. I don't like keeping people guessing for to awful long. I spent many hours today detailing the civic. There will be more details in the last few days of the project.


The details for the bank will also follow later. A close up of the detailing of the Civic Center. I have the Cullman Gourd Society show this week-end. I will be spending the rest of the week finishing my entries for judging. I will be back on the wall Monday 10-20-08. I plan to rough in the High school next. I hope every one has a wonderful week-end.

day 6- 10-13-08

The bank was roughed in today.

The Third fore ground tree was shaded and blocked in with dark sage and cavern moss.

Day 5

I was blessed with another beautiful day to work. I would also like to annouce the arrival of our new Grand-daughter, Berkley. She was born Thursday and Tommy and I are so excited. The banner will have the apperence of being framed and Tiger tail will shadow the letters.
The Civic Centers roof was added. I have had a little hang up with getting all of my colors so some of my scheduled stages have to be altered.
I appreciate all the kind words thus far in the progression. I apologize for not updating the blog sooner. I will do my best to keep the progression posted. My plans are to work on the wall Sunday, Monday, and maybe Tuesday of this coming week. I'm also preparing for the Cullman Gourd Society Festival the 18 & 19th.

Day 4

The foliage from the large oak tree was added. I decided to include the cap as part of the design.
The Depo is roughed in and more detailed will be added later to bring out the tiled roof and brick.

To tie in the front brick, I decided to Jagger the edge to prevent the line across a whole brick. Grey and beige tones will also be added to the bark further into the project.

Day 3 photos

Today I blocked in the train depo and the civic center. I also added the back ground tree line.

Day 3

Today I scaled out the Train Depo and the Civic Center. My working drawings are 1/4" scale. To transfer to the wall in full scale several measurments were taken. The Depo is in a two point perspective and the Civic Center is in a one point perspective.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_(graphical)

This was mainly today to get the roof lines. This allowed me to paint the back tree line. I used dark sage (Manor court) and bewitched for shading. Daping the 1" brush with irregular strokes the depth of the trees is achieved.

The streets where bustling with early visitors for the Frog level Festival. I appreciate all the kind words shared by everyone.
I will post more photos Wen(8th)

Day 2

October 3
After seting up the tent for some shade, I climbed my 8" ladder to create a beigh back drop for the existing lettering. shadowing in tiger tail will be added later to enhance the Welcome banner.
Since this is Fayette's Frog Level Festival ....I brought Terrapan Turtle ( I didn't have a frog). The working drawing is set up for my reference in measuring out the detailes.

End of the second day ground planes, and sky where blocked in. The forground trees where also scaled in while some very talented skaters entertained me. The wall has full exposure to direct sun all day. The block heats up around 12:00 and thinning required for the paint to blend. I'm predicting a pretty good suntan on my arms and back of my legs by the end.Lol. Well....I'm leaving Hamilton to head to the wall this Sat. morning for day 3. I will be filling in more of the back ground today. I hope everyone enjoys the Festival this week-end!

Day 1

October 3, 2008

Today was a great day. The start of a new adventure. Having my truck loaded I headed to Fayette to start the new project. I met with Gary at Lawerence's and worked out the paint selections and he was very helpful fulfilling the needs for the job. Primer used- Zinsser Bulls-eye 1-2-3, Paint used-Pittsburg Paints, Manor Court.

Photo taken beginning of day 2-primer complete. Masking the lettering was troublesome due to slight breezes. Simular to folding a tarp on a windy day.

Fayette Mural progression

Hello everyone! I'm Missy Miles of Wayside AL. I have been commissioned to create and paint a mural to feature some of Fayette's wonderful landmarks. Linda Byers contacted me after seeing the Mural in Guin. She stated the Down Town Merchants Association have been wanting a mural for some years now. After our meeting on Sept 15 a rendering was worked up in 1/4" scale. Once presented with my bid I was contacted on the 26th that Larry and herself would me prepping the wall that week-end.