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New Mural in progress for the YMCA in New Castle, PA

The Color Dreamers creates new Public Art Mural for YMCA

We are excited to announce that we have landed in New Castle, Pennsylvania for our latest mural project. We are working on a new mural in collaboration with the Arts and Education at Hoyt and the YMCA. This brick wall measure 50′ high by 100′ wide. So far our transformation is going well and we are being well received by the local community as we add color, geometric art and people to this artwork.

A few days of rain have delayed our process but that’s expected when dealing with an exterior mural. For this concept we added colors from the YMCA logo to ad a sense of color harmony that is useful when branding the identity of a company. The wall art will include a group of individuals jumping a finish line promoting wellness and health. At the bottom left we can see Buddy, a friendly dog who frolics alongside the happy group.

Here’s some photos of our progress so far! If you are in Pennsylvania and would like to see the work  in progress, you can find the mural is located at the YMCA in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

20 W Washington St, New Castle, PA 16101

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Copyright @thecolordreamersllc

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Our visit to Nelson BC Canada for their International Mural Festival

Color Dreamers creates new mural for Nelson International Mural Festival

We just landed in Nelson BC Canada for their first ever mural festival and we had quite an experience.  We created a mural, hosted a workshop, took part in a panel discussion and engaged with the local art community explaining our mural art process.  Before making our travel plans over to Canada, we first created a concept based on guidelines and recommendations by the business owner of the building.  We were given a corrugated tin corner wall that was the corner storage room of the building and the keyword “anvil.” We started to brainstorm a few ideas and created a few concepts we felt would work. We felt it was necessary to take advantage of the architecture and create an interesting focal point on the corner of the wall.

We created our mural artwork concept and got to packing. We made our journey through the highest mountains of British Columbia and three planes later we landed in the small town of Nelson.

Nestled in between mountains and  the Kootenay Lake , Nelson is a progressive town seeking to embrace a bit more diversity in their public artworks. We were housed just outside the city with a local mixed media artist and retired teacher whose house was filled with colorful sculptures and art. Our first Impression of Nelson was a peaceful, serene town with a flock of geese grazing on grass. The mountains had a distant smoke looming over. At the time we didn’t know it but it was smoke from the wildfires in neighboring Washington.

We got to work immediately and began the process of prepping the wall by power washing it and laying out our pre-sketch. We mixed our colors and over the next few days honed in on our work.

We hosted a community workshop titled “Top 10 Tips on Becoming a Professional Artist” where we gave some tips on best tools for becoming successful in the art world.  We also attended a panel discussion with 3 other artists that partook in the mural festival and the audience asked a few questions about our artistic process.

 

The mural that was created for this particular wall is 14′ feet high by 40′ wide. The wall surface was a challenge as the divots and corrugated pattern was not easy to paint with a brush but we always enjoy a a new challenge when it comes to art. The artwork is titled “Striking the Iron while its Hot” which pays homage to the craftsman spirit and iron workers. We took advantage of the corner of the walls and an illusion that appeared to look into a room. The cut away was created painting a faux brick wall that appeared to be incomplete.

The colors chosen provides a warm glow for those winters in Nelson and we used an array of complimentary colors to accent the glass sitting on the shelves in the room. On the Nelson Artwalk opening night we got the talk with many local residents who expressed how the murals are a  beautiful way to add color and vibrancy to the neighborhood.  We had a small opportunity to take a pictures with some of the crowd.

Towards the end of our journey the smoke in Nelson was so bad that many outbound flights were cancelled. At one point the sun had been so glazed with smoke it looked red.  We had to take a greyhound bus 11 hours north to the nearest airport and fly out of Calgary and left on the late night flight. It was quite a journey and it was special in many ways. We are happy to have had the opportunity to make the town of Nelson a more vibrant and colorful place.   Articles in the Nelson Star can be found here :

 

 

 

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New video release for our Wynwood Smoke and Lounge mural

Wynwood Flamingo Mural Color Dreamers

We have been digging through our video vault of past projects and we have come across some of the videos our showcasing our process for our flamingo and chimp mural that we created for Wynwood Smoke Lounge. Located in Miami’s thriving arts district known as Wynwood, we completed this mural back in October 2017. The lounge has had a lot of tourist traffic since its opening and we are excited to share our work and art with the local and international community.

As usual we start our process with mixing our colors from primary red, blue and yellow with splashes of black and white. For this particular project we created a series of geometric patterns with a color scheme that fits the interior design. The patterns where created using taped forms. The artist, Amir Shakir then painted the chimp aka “Slick Chimp” and the flamingos who smoke a hookah in the lounge area.

We had a bast on this one and working with the clients ideas and input really made the outcome impressive. Every mural is unique and specific to the goals and environment. We take care in making sure that the surface is properly prepared, that the art relates to the clients needs and that the message is clearly communicated. As artists, we feel that the key to great art is is leaving a lasting impression. We ensure that the mural art theme relates to the functions and customers of the shop and lounge. Many visitors to Wynwood have tagged us in all their selfie shots with the murals and we are able to see how people interact with the art in the space. It is a true blessing and joy to work in a field that we love and enjoy. Our clients are always very happy with the result and we maintain lasting friendships from the entire process.

Signing off here The Color Dreamers. Subscribe to our YouTube page and stay updated on all of our new videos. We promise we will always go above and beyond in all of our travels and projects creating a more colorful world!

If you have any questions, comments or would like us to quote a special project you have in mind contact us HERE.

 

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Miami Interior Design Art

Luxury Residential Mural

We don’t just create art for  interior spaces, we design art that is expressive for environments with fully immersive artistic moods. We believe an Interior Design should pay attention to undertones and color temperatures to create natural color transitions throughout the day. As a national mural artist team based in Miami, Florida, we know the power visual art has on a space. Our Interior Designer solutions integrate the designers concepts with art into the environment to refine the meaning of a space. Utilizing creative, functional and thoughtful design we maximize the beauty of a space. Request More Info

Interior Design Approach

Some of the key points we focus on when designing a space are Visual Harmony, Innovation and Value. Designs must be adaptable and exude quality at every level to meet our standards. We value visual art that communicates a refined message and magnifies the beauty of a space. Through research and observation we work with the environment to achieve designs that push the limits of creativity. Request a consultation here and maximize the beauty of your space.
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New video of our mural time-lapse in Wynwood for Mana building

Wynwood Walls Color Dreamers Mural Aerial

Wynwood Walls Mural Time-lapse with The Color Dreamers

Check out our latest time-lapse video of our Mural in Wynwood Miami of supermodels Raquel Riley Thomas and Randi Dorsey.  This mural scales over 40′ feet high and 38′ and was created using acrylic paint. The entire process took over 3 weeks to complete using an aerial lift. The mural was unveiled in May 2018.

We used the height of the wall to give the illusion of a large open window on the wall that opens up to the sky. We created a linen texture with smokey hues of purple. We added the Florida Panther as a symbol of strength and courage and to pay homage to the beautiful wild species that is a beacon of Florida’s nature. The process was amazing and the final result has created a tourist attraction at the Wynwood walls. We are ever grateful for the experience and opportunity to continue to push our art to new levels.

We invite the community to visit the mural located at the Wynwood Walls 524 NW 26 ST in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. As we continue to create new works in progress across the nation we hope that you will continue to follow us through our journey. We are excited to share our work with the world and provide inspiration to communities and cities as they develop their art districts. This is our largest mural to date.

Please like, share and subscribe to our channel for more video updates.

Shot with Sony Xperia

Our sincere thank you to Ron Thomas and Raquel Riley Thomas. The Mana Contemporary team for facilitating the process and being helpful.

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City of Asheville Visiting Artist Program

We have been selected as finalists for Asheville’s first Visiting Artist Program

We are happy to announce that we have been shortlisted for the City of Asheville Public Art Program that will include a new set of Public Artworks in specified locations throughout the city. Working together with the organizations of the local communities. The 2018 partnership is funded by the City’s Percent for Public Art Policy, sponsored by the Public Art and Cultural Commission, and being guided by a leadership team of artists, arts and culture educators, activists, and promoters including The YMI cultural center of Asheville and  Public Art & Cultural Commission (PACC).

We are excited to work with the local community in building a concept that reflects the identity and progress of the African American community through the artistic process. Stay posted on our Instagram page TheColorDreamers for photo diary updates of our process and progress

Project Description

The City of Asheville through the Public Art and Cultural Commission (PACC) in Asheville, North Carolina is seeking artists for a recently initiated Visiting Artist Program (VAP) which for its first year aims to enhance underserved communities, address needs in the City’s public art collection, and enable collaborative, mentoring relations between a nationally and internationally recognized artist (or artist team) and a selected group of local artists. For its inaugural 2018 project, the focus will be on the history, contribution, and experience of the African American community of Asheville. The City and PACC hereby announces a request for proposals from professional artists of national or international standing whose work can meet these objectives in engaging and innovative ways. We welcome any artistic medium that provides an opportunity for collaboration and professional development for local artists and that utilizes the City’s public space (or spaces) to promote dialogue and meaningful exchange regarding the history, culture, and presence of the African American Community in Asheville.

Background

The City of Asheville’s Public Art and Cultural Commission (PACC) has worked with the City to use Public Art Funds on a Visiting Artist Program (VAP). This program is designed to meet several key objectives: First, to enhance and diversify the City’s public art collection with an innovative work of art (broadly defined) that promotes dialogue and engagement with the history and cultural identity of Asheville; Second, to create significant opportunities for local artists to collaborate with national and internationally recognized artists and gain valuable professional development in the arts; Finally, to identify and creatively respond to the needs, interests, and perspectives of underrepresented members of our community. With its distinctive emphasis on creative and conceptual innovation, artistic collaboration, and cultural diversity in the arts, the Visiting Artist Program is specifically designed to enhance and expand the artistic profile of Asheville, which boasts a robust and active artistic community.

THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

70 Court Plaza
P.O. Box 7148
Asheville, NC 28802

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We are going international! Nelson Mural Festival | BC Canada

NELSON INTERNATIONAL MURAL FESTIVAL

We are extremely excited to announce that we have been selected for our first International Mural Festival in Nelson Canada! We are super excited to take part in the festival.  Stay tuned to our Instagram TheColorDreamers for updates!

Event will take place August 17-19, 2018
Throughout  Nelson BC, Canada


Through the festival, Nelson District Arts Council a.k.a NDAC seeks to increase the cultural vibrancy of Nelson by engaging local, national and international street artists, muralists, creators and arts lovers through large scale public artworks and educational opportunities. NDAC desires to shine a light on local cultures and histories, encouraging collaboration and community building.  All festival events will take place in public spaces and will be offered free of charge.

Join us at our first Mural Festival! Thank you City of Nelson and Canada!

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Our Process in Creating Murals

The behind the scene of some of our mural projects

Many people are often curious about the process that is involved in creating art. Throughout our years we have learned that art is not a one size fits all method. The more that you explore art, the more you find new ways to do create it.

MIX COLORS

Our biggest lesson in being able to create large scale artworks and murals is to make sure that you have all your colors pre-mixed before you start. For large scale art, you can’t just always mix colors on site even though certain colors within the artwork will be mixed instantly. The artists has to decide what the largest mass with in the artwork is and pre-select those colors through paint guides. You can order all your colors with paint companies once you have chosen what they are.

CREATE A SKETCH

We often create a preliminary sketch  to make sure we like the colors and composition. A sketch also allows for the client or organization hiring us to get an idea of what the final artwork will look like. This take a lot of practice! Get a sketchbook and practice, practice, practice! We like to create sketches a variety of ways from digital concepts, architectural renderings to mock-ups and physical small scale samples. Every project is unique so we can customize the sketch to be tailored to the most important aspects of the project.

IT’S OK TO EDIT!

Some of our best ideas are not the first ones. In an effort to ensure that our clients get exactly what they envision we often have to edit our first sketch and try a new idea out. It’s okay to go back to the drawing board, to see what can be eliminated or what can be added. Sometimes its great to be able to play around with different ideas and see how it looks. It’s all part of the process. The only way we continue to create some of the best art is to try different things.

GATHER MATERIALS

The key to creating great art is to make sure you give yourself enough time to plan. Normally we spend 2-3 days gathering materials, creating our work schedule, and making sure we have all equipment on site. Mural projects are very delicate and if you fail to properly plan you could miss a whole day of work.We have created many murals  across the country now so we know what to expect and how to make our planning process faster.

PRIME AND PREP WALL

We prepare the surface to be painted on a variety of ways. Everything is dependent on what you are painting on. The most important aspect of ensuring quality and a long lasting artwork is to make sure that the surface is properly prepared to adhere to the molecules in the paint. We gather all technical specifications of the surface to make sure that we use the correct materials. Every surface is unique but from stucco to metal and glass, we have a solution for each material.

SKETCH ARTWORK ON WALL

Depending on the size of the wall and what the artwork is we may choose to use a grid method or a projector. The gird method has the most accurate result. This way works best for odd sized walls, small spaces, extremely large walls and areas without electrical sources.

START PAINTING!

Here comes the magic! Our favorite part! We now take our sections and get working. This is the longest part of the process and the one that comes together slowly. Layer by layer we built up the artwork over a series of rolling in the color, hand brushing, and color mixing. We sometimes take a break between the process to make sure that we don’t exhaust energy levels. It is vital to ensure that we can look at the artwork with fresh eyes and make adjustments as needed. People often underestimate what it takes to create artwork on such a large scale. Most of the time the work takes a physical toll on your body. We always make sure to yoga and a healthy smoothie to our routine each morning to make sure that our bodies are strong and healthy. Any time your body is exhausted it shows in your work. GREAT ART TAKES TIME. Schedule in breaks, exercise and good meals. Not only will it keep you energized and refreshed but the results can be seen in the out put of your work.

 

Well that’s it! We hope that this short list provided some perspective on our process. We may have missed a few elements here but that’s the mystery to art. Each process is unique to the artist. We study light shadows, perspective, form, and color to gain awareness on how to create realism. The foundation for great art is to study it. Art is a science. It is  a journey to discover and each method will lead you to new results!

 

 

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Wynwood Smoke Lounge Mural

New Slick Chimp and Flamingos Mural

We have finally gotten around to uploading some of our progress photos for Wynwood Smoke Lounge that we completed a few months ago. Wynwood Smoke Lounge is a cigar shop, hookah lounge and entertainment venue located in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District. For this particular mural, the client asked that we come up with a creative concept that involved animals smoking.

For the cigar shop, we choose a sophisticated monkey a.k.a. Slick Chimp who is about 9 feet high. We also painted the walls to wrap around the interior so that the colors could be seen behind the glass cases of products. For the hookah smoke lounge we placed two flamingos smoking a hookah with the logo of the company displayed on the hookah glass. The background was created using a series of patterns and shapes that complimented the color scheme for the lounge.

As always, many colors were custom mixed using a simple color palette of primary colors red, yellow and blue. The pattern on the walls were created suing a series of precise tape work that required rolling in certain colors. We used Benjamin Moor paint.

We made an effort to create a concept design that matched the interior furniture selection so that the artwork would have a fully immersive experience and relate to the overall environment. The result was one of a kind and we have received so many compliments. Slick Chimp seems to be everyone’s favorite as he draws many visitors in to the shop to take a closer look. The owner’s have told us how trilled with the finished mural and that it has definitively increased traffic and new clients to their business.

That’s what its all about. The way that art can change an environment to a cool atmosphere that people enjoy to visit. At every point we make sure that all the details are not overlooked and that customers get a truly unexpected result.

You can check out these murals at their location in Wywood Arts District:
Wynwood Smoke Lounge
320 NW 24th St, Miami, FL 33127