At the beginning of 2017 I was asked to do a mural for Seattle Coffee Works, who were in the process of opening a new location in the bustling neighborhood, Capitol Hill, in downtown Seattle. The project spanned over two walls for a combined size of 27' x 10'.
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If you spend enough time walking through the streets and alleyways of downtown Seattle, you'll notice that there are an absurd amount of murals in this city, plastered on the walls of restaurants, entire buildings, even strip clubs. Art is welcome everywhere you go.
It wasn't hard to find inspiration, but it was difficult to come up with a style that would represent me. What could I do differently?
As I reflect on the work, I realize that the style is nothing unique, but the world I created is truly my own. I relied on my memory to build the "Garden of Coffee Works", using only my imagination to recreate a realistic environment. When I wasn't in front of the mural, I was in front of plants and trees, studying details. Creating depth on a flat surface meant understanding distance; I paid attention to the relation of size and perspective. I noticed that even though all the leaves on a tree were of similar size, the leaf closest to me looked three times the size of another in the distance.
My point: I was learning how to paint the world we see everyday by paying attention to my surroundings.
This was the first time I had ever taken on a project of this size, using a medium that I was not very familiar with. I have done, perhaps, one proper painting prior to this project. I practiced mixing colors, I learned the various applications for different types of brushes, and I came to understand the importance of layering.
I spent too much time focusing on smaller details, rather than getting the bigger picture down first. I spent too much time stepping back, staring at the mural, and pondering over what I should do, instead of trusting my instincts and putting down what came to mind.
It took me six months to complete the mural. It also took me six months to realize that it had to be finished, even if I could work on it forever. I wanted the mural to be perfect, and I wanted it to have everything imaginable, from bamboo plants, to coffee plants, to vines, flowers, and everything in between. I didn't put a lot of time in making a plan for the mural, and as such, there was no direction or goal to follow; I was free to do as I wish, with no idea of what the final product would look like. I did a trial mural at home, painting different trees and plants I thought might work for the coffee shop. However, the final product reflected very little of what I had done at home.
Yet, I am very pleased with what came of the whole process. For a first-ever mural, it was crazy taking on two walls at once... But, it was an amazing journey, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity that allowed me to unleash my creativity and explore my mind.
I hope that this is the start to something more, an adventure of a lifetime.
Below are a few pictures of the walls, along with a silent 42 minute video showing the entire process of bringing the mural to life.
Sincerely,
Kyle Smith
