About the Project

In the summer of 2024, the Corvian Elementary School leadership welcomed me to paint a mural to celebrate the grand opening of their new school. The design was co-created with school leadership and inspired by the school’s cardinal mascot and whimsical design elements. It needed to feel fun, but not childish—something both students and adults could appreciate. The result was a 19-foot-tall, handpainted mural that celebrates the growth that the school provides.

The mural features 10 cardinals:

• Three in full view

• Seven hidden within the colorful, botanical scene

20 more cardinals are also hidden throughout the school, sparking an ongoing scavenger hunt for students, staff, and families. It’s an immersive experience that captures the spirit of Corvian’s learning community from the moment you walk through the door.

I decided not to use spray paint for this mural because I wanted to avoid dealing with overspray and fumes. As a result, this mural took three times more work than expected, since the entire piece was hand-painted with brushes using super-saturated colors. Despite the challenges, my team and I were still able to deliver the mural three weeks ahead of schedule.

The hidden birds throughout the school were laser cut and hand-painted.

It was heartwarming to see these trusted leaders come together to create something meaningful for their educational community. I felt like part of the team—a truly wonderful team. I’m honored to work with such incredible community leaders. It was also so heartwarming to meet their educational community after hearing so much about how wonderful the families and kids are.

I daydream about new students walking through those doors and being greeted by this mural. I hope it makes them feel welcomed, inspired, and excited to begin their journey.