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| Painting in the Dark at Levant in Raleigh |
Back when postal carriers delivered mail door to door there was a commonly known phrase that summed up their determination. "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” - (unofficial motto often attributed to the USPS). Would you believe there are times when the same words can be applied to the mural artist?
The truth is that painting murals is physically demanding and can require long hours in all conditions. The project schedule often requires the coordination of various contractors, so I may work several 12+ hour days in a row. That’s a lot of hours on your feet, so proper running shoes are a must. I may be sweating away in the heat and humidity of summer or losing feeling in my toes during the cold of winter painting an exterior mural. I may find myself on a job site without functional air conditioning or heat. Lighting may be inadequate or completely absent. There may be chaos and noise from contractors, an audience of onlookers and passersby, bees and other biting insects, and heights that requires scary climbs on scaffolding and ladders.
On my most recent job in Wilmington, NC, we were under an extreme heat advisory all week with “feels like” temperatures over 100 degrees. Due to a tight construction schedule and a quickly approaching opening date, I couldn’t postpone in hopes of lower temperatures. I don’t think I’ve ever been so hot and uncomfortable. I gulped liters of gatorade, doused my hat in cold water every twenty minutes, and was forced to take frequent breaks. Passersby would say that I picked the wrong week to work. No kidding. If it were up to me, I’d have picked October rather than August.
While I’m complaining, I don’t want to forget to mention the almost complete lack of shade or protection from the unrelenting rays of the sun and the swarms of mosquitoes that attacked at dawn and dusk. I was sunburned, sore, exhausted and covered in bites at the end of the week, but I did get that job done on time. The client had an expectation, and I didn’t want to disappoint. If I say I’ll do it, I’ll do it!
In spite of some of the images posted by various muralists on social media, the work is often not glamorous. You won’t see many selfies of me, because I’m usually wearing paint-spattered old t-shirts, a faded baseball cap, and didn’t bother with make-up. Well, truth be told, I simply don’t really like selfies anyway. Even with all of that being said, there’s almost nothing I’d rather be doing. When I am painting, time stops and worries fade away. I’m filled with a pleasant emptiness while all of my focus goes into the project. I really believe artwork helps to enliven spaces and add to the experience the owner is trying to create. If someone sees my work and it makes them feel happy or inspired, then that is an extra bonus. I feel so grateful and fortunate to have the work.
-Arianne
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| Sky High Mural Scaffolding at Opa in Wilmington, NC |
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