There's no thing more provocative than an architectural space with an immense, blank wall. This is how I felt when I first saw the San Francisco Hilton and this is how I felt when I first saw the pool area at the Hallmark Inn. What I saw was a terrific opportunity to transform a space. And that's what I love to do.  Measuring 20 x 50,' this is the largest single painting I have created in my entire career.

The technique is like a giant water color painting, but more permanent, working flat and flooding the surface with water and pigment. The water takes the paint where it wants to go. Small photos can't convey the how loose this painting is.

The land between Davis and Winters, along the Coast Range has always knocked me out. In the Spring I spent several days wandering around the budding trees and crops and contemplating those incredible undulating hills with their dots of oaks disappearing into the distance. Prior blogs below describe the design and painting process. The Davis area abounds with wonderful artists who have portrayed this landscape. Having been born in this Valley, I feel privileged to add to the effort.
Hallmark has been upgrading for several years. Working with Michael Dunlavey, Seasons Restaurant and areas around the hotel have been transformed. It is now a sweet boutique property, appropriate for the many visitors to Davis, from academics to sports teams. This wall is a recent addition, resulting from a new development to the north.

After the crew primed the wall back to white last Sunday, I met Rick and Juan, on Monday at 6:00am to try to beat the heat. The day was cooler, but still in the mid-90's. The wall surface can get extremely hot very quickly so they started up top. With the top planks at about 21' this is a daunting place to be. Working quickly under the shade of the scaffold, the left half of the mural was up by 2pm just as the sun began to sear through our skin.

On Tuesday, we started at 6am again. We finished adhering the panels around 2pm and joined Susan and Reed Youmans for a much welcome lunch while the first coat of sealer was drying. After lunch, Rick and Juan applied the final top coat. The scaffolding will be removed as soon as possible. I will be returning to take pictures as it comes down. Then I will be creating a "time lapse" video of the process. Visit the new mural anytime or join us September 12th for an art event at Hallmark for Davis' 2nd Friday.
Today, Thursday, I returned at 8am to shoot a time lapse of two workers removing the scaffolding. By the time they were done at 10am, there was a shadow cast across the wall. The changing shadows will make the video more interesting but it makes for a more difficult exposure for the mural. A professional photographer will be able to compensate, I hope. Here is the best I can do with my small Sony. Please also see Bob Shallit's article in the Bee this morning.

 

Please visit Stephanie Taylor's websites: