Over the period of two months, I was assigned to complete two different murals in Ballard Coffee Works. This post reflects on the second mural, which can be found next to the brew bar.
To continue the theme of Ethiopian coffee culture, the focus of this mural were Ethiopian coffee plants, which are actually more like trees. Untamed, they grow wild, baring fruit on branches high above our heads; you can wrap both hands around the circumference of the trunk.
For me, this piece was a combination of styles from the first and second murals I had done (Capitol, and Cascade Coffee Works). The colors of the sunset play a large role in creating a mood for the overall piece, and the tree attempts to loom out at the viewer, as if beckoning to pluck its cherries. Originally, the wall was going to have just a tree. However, in talking to Sebastian (one of the owners), I was convinced that the mural needed a proper background. He told me of his travels to Ethiopia, reminiscing over the vivid colors of the sunsets… deep shades of orange and red. I believed a red sunset would compliment the cherries, as well as create a stark contrast with the green plants (“lots of green” was a request for the mural). I wanted to create an environment where you could look out into the valley, and feel at peace while sipping a coffee.
While it wasn’t a challenge, it was a unique experience having to work with the light fixtures. Subconsciously, and consciously, I painted the sunset according to where the fixtures were, and as such, the gradient of the sunset was affected by the placement of the lights. The lights reminded me of tiki torches in a forrest, lighting up the plants and tree with it’s golden glow. There were two points of light that I played with, one being the actual light from the fixtures, and the other being the sunset. I took into account the light coming from behind the plants and tree, and the light shining down from the “torches”. It helped make the foreground pop out, and allowed the fixtures to play a key role in the mural, rather than become a distraction.
Throughout the project, I found it difficult to really know what I was doing, as I could only paint at night, and the store was quite dark. As a result, I ended up using a lot more blue in the plants, which I didn’t realize until I saw the final product in the daylight. It was a wonderful surprise, as it made the mural much more vibrant than I had anticipated.
Unlike the other mural in BCW, this was done free-hand, and unplanned. Each step required patience, and thought. I had to trust my own intuition, and I had to believe that each stroke was the right thing to do… even if I felt unsure. In the end, I am truly pleased with the process, and how this turned out. I know I have much more to learn, but I am very happy with what I’ve done, and I’m glad it looks even better in the daylight!
If you get a chance, come check out both murals at Ballard Coffee Works, located in Ballard, Seattle Washington, on the intersection of Market St. and 22nd!
Below is a time-lapse I made of the process, with music also made by me!
Cheers,
Kyle Smith
