Oh, Baby!

The entirety of the First 1000 Days mural has brought challenges related to size, organization and materials, along with a desire to paint a design of the utmost quality.

However my number
one objective was to make sure the baby, the focal point of the mural, was absolute perfection.

I created the child in the mural around the suggestions proposed by the First Thousand Days
Initiative – sounds, colors and shapes forming a world of nurturing, learning and imagination.

We began painting on the right side of the mural only because that is where the lift ended up after projecting the design and repositioning the lift is time-consuming. There we painted two birds, a rabbit and a balloon, in addition to parts of the book and swing.

At this point I had to decide whether to brave the center portion with the baby or go down the left side with the other birds and the logo leaving the baby as a grand finale.

In the end I decided to do the baby next, for several reasons.

One, the paints and brushes would be less compromised
by wear and tear.

Two, I would have more chances to revisit and make corrections to the baby if
necessary.

And three, I didn’t want to run out of steam on this huge project leaving the most
challenging part to the end.

And oh, baby!

I’m glad I made that decision because the days flew by, energy was high, and the weather was perfect. Before I knew it the child was finished, adorable, happy and as captivating as I had hoped for.

Challenges aside, now I can relax and enjoy the final stretch of the mural.

~Laura