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Miami Mural Artist LEBO dies at 50

Local mural Miami artist dies

Many Miami natives have seen the mural artworks of artist LEBO. It was very sad to hear the news today that he has passed away. The prominent street artist was known for his early Miami murals in a cartoon style with vibrant colors. Lebo, was a very well respected and liked local artist who continually reached out to his community gifting artworks and advice on making art. As artists who know the difficulties of navigating the art world and creating art on dangerously high walls. We appreciate all the artists that put in the love and work that it takes to go big!

LEBO was a very special artist to Miami and he will defiantly be missed! We share some of his process here on this massive Miami Beach mural for which he created on a swing stage over the water. The dedication it takes to create these murals is not for the faint of heart. Those afraid of heights need not apply.


“A big reason I chose to highlight the Monk Parakeet for this project is its unique nature as a tropical species. Not only can their interesting squawking be heard throughout the area, but you can also see their family nests located in palm trees all around Miami Beach. Below the parakeet and night jasmine blossom is a stylized wave pattern inspired by the Art Deco movement, another trademark of Miami Beach. The lifeguard stand also captures another Miami Beach highlight with its delightful one of a kind feel, as it stands dotting the Atlantic”. – Lebo

About the artist Lebo


David Le Batard, better known in the art world as Lebo. He is recognized for working in a wide spectrum of creative mediums including murals, paintings and sculptures. Lebo is the innovator of Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism – a combination of cartoon imagery, richly saturated balances of color and unique linear composition brought together in a narrative style to inspire emotion and create layers of meaning. We leave you with some of our favorite artworks of his, including this massive cruise-ship mural he painted for Norwegian Cruise Line. We hope you enjoy. Please share his art worldwide as we mourn the loss of another fellow artist.

LEBO, really gave Miami a piece of his creativity and heart. Rest in Paradise.

All rights reserved 2023 The Color Dreamers

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Miami Local Wall Mural Artist

Adding Murals to a wall by a local artist really enhances its appeal!

Hiring local Miami wall artists is the key to a successful project. Companies like Muros pay for a lot for advertising and charge a lot more for their services while hiring local artists. The biggest benefit of hiring local artists is the ability to go straight to the source while still getting the best quality and prices. Hiring local is the key to a successful project.

Main Benefits of hiring local wall artists

Local artists have better prices

The biggest perk to hiring a local Miami artist is the ability to get a better deal. Out of town agencies have overhead costs that will add on to your budget while a local artist will bid a project out for just one service. As artists we want companies to benefit from the value of art in every way possible. Paying to much for art is not necessary. You can get the same quality of service, design, communication and invoices directly from a local artist. Freeing up budget space for other aspects of the project and even having the ability to do multiple murals. In our years of business, we have been able to give clients discounts and in turn they have been able to do more art projects with us. The cost difference will surprise you!

Local artists can conduct site visits more regularly

An out of town agency cannot fly in to town for every bid and estimate. They rely heavily on photos or a local representative to conduct site visits for them. In order to foresee any potential safety concerns or possible painting restrictions, local artists can conduct multiple site visits at little or no cost. The ability to check and recheck sites is an important aspect of ensuring a successful outcome. When it comes to starting the project, a local artist can be there at a moments notice. If a project gets delayed, a local artist has the flexibility to reschedule. Some clients may have requests that require working at odd hours, since we are close by to our projects we are better able to cater to those requests.

Local artists connect with the community

Community building is vital to new businesses in the area. A local artist generally has deep rooted ties to the community they live in. They can make the appropriate suggestions for relevant art. Additionally, they can filter corporate messages that will relate better with the residents of the area. It is important to create an atmosphere that enhances the connection to the community. The local community will support the efforts of any company that keeps their well being in mind. As artists we strive to bridge the connection between business and community. Art will always be a beautiful reflection of that local connection. For example, the company Thor Equities moved into the Wynwood neighborhood and brought local art talent to life. They curated a few murals on their building that were fun and playful! Not only did this art connect to the community but it also brought inclusion and diversity.

Local artists have more resources available to them

Local artists can bring in a variety of other artisans, coordinators, fabricators for a much larger project. The scope of work can range to provide a wider scale of trades dedicated to making a bigger impact. Local artists can also assist in making recommendations. They can connect a new business to other valuable companies. Artists can also coordinate events and local sponsors. Also, local artists are more aware of a variety of the services available in the area. Connections to more regional companies is valuable to any new businesses moving in to the neighborhood. Many of our projects entail bringing in various trades at the best prices. As artists, we strive to help our clients achieve their goals whatever they may be.

Local artists will promote your business

The biggest benefit to hiring a local wall artists is that they will big up your business! You can reach more people than intended because the artist you hired posted your project on their social media. How exciting it is to reach the local community in an organic way without paying a marketing team. Word of mouth is the most valuable source of advertising. Artists will post progress videos, live feeds and even full productions based on their projects. This adds more marketing to your business. Building relationships with local artisans will not only enhance your companies appeal, it will also provide long term brand recognition. So many times while working in Wynwood Arts District, we have had an entire tour bus audience while we paint. We always interact and promote our clients. Our works are collaborations we truly value.

In closing, the benefits of hiring local muralist can greatly impact project budget and quality. Make sure to do some research when planning a project, the ability to make local connections will make your business resonate better within the community.

If you need any help with your next project make sure to contact us. Not only do we love meeting new people and starting new projects but we love to see when our partners are successful because we painted a beautiful mural!

CONTACT US for more information or to share your next project with us.

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Creating a large scale art mural on a building

Large scale art on buildings

One of the questions we get asked a lot is how we go about the process of creating large scale exterior murals on buildings. Although there are many ways to go about this process there are only a few important factors to consider. Safety, method, technique and practice. Painting murals is very risky so its important to have the best techniques and safety practices in place. Below we will discuss these important factors while preparing to paint a mural.

Safety

First, before any work begins it is important to make sure you do a site visit to ensure all safety precautions are thought through. If you are afraid of heights this is not a good place to practice overcoming that fear. You should be able to move carefully and cautiously. You will be wearing safety equipment, which can sometimes block your view, get in the way or otherwise make it difficult to move around to easily. Staying alert and prepared is the key to avoiding accidents.

Plan for bad weather, traffic, and material delays. Set a day aside for equipment drop-offs and safety measures. Consequently even when you plan every detail of a project you can’t control the weather. Make sure to check the local weather before heading out to the site. Rain will ruin wet paint on exterior walls and cold weather will have slow the paints drying time. Plan for project delays and you will be better prepared to make a more efficient use of the time.

Each site has different site conditions and specific obstacles. Make sure of the following:

Block off areas you are working in to ensure the safety of others and yourself.

Wear a hard hat when needed and use safety harnesses when operating aerial equipment.

Always double check all safety equipment.

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.

Painting a mural is like working on a construction site. Safety is very important to continue to work properly. If you focus on staying alert and safe you will be creating large scale art murals for years to come.

Method

Second, collaboration and agreement between all artists working on the mural is key. As the Color Dreamers we have had over a decade of working together. We are truly be able to execute each mural with good communication towards our design goals. In the studio we work out any potential flaws in the design. Similarity, we pass our sketches and designs back and forth till we reach a close to perfect design. Sketches allow for good visual communication to all those involved in creating the mural. Sketches communicate the design intention and direction.

When working on such a large scale artwork, making sure that there are no changes during the painting process is crucial to meet deadlines. Many exterior building projects have deadlines for completion, Making changes mid project can be a costly delay for both the artists and designers. Having your sketch on hand at the site will ensure there are no mistakes made.

Technique

Third, large scale murals require a variety different techniques based on the design. Studio practice is important to understanding all of the unique methods of creating art. Nothing compares to hours of practice and years of experience. Knowing how to create different paint effects will save you lots of time. Spend time experimenting with different mediums and colors. Make time to sketch, mix colors and paint. The more skilled you are with your craft the better the mural result will be.

Different tools will give you different results. Exterior large scale art is not just paint brushes. Having a large collection of tools will give you a broader range of techniques. Tools can range from aerosol spray paint, brushes, sponges, stencils, gold leafing and ink. While working with Interior Designers and Architects make sure that they are aware of the different paint techniques as well. As a result the mural should not just be beautiful but representative to the overall design concept.

Practice, practice, practice

Lastly, practice is vital to achieve the best results. The Color Dreamers have worked with many Interior Designers and Architects for various projects over the years. The collaborations between design studios often results in jaw-dropping artwork. Experimenting with art in our studio is a daily practice. Spending the time to develop ideas and techniques is what truly represents our capabilities.

Additionally, we spend a lot of time on developing color schemes, mood boards, and custom samples for clients. Ensuring we use the highest quality materials for each artwork set us apart. Developing unique techniques for each client is what makes our practice successful. Without the years of focus and practice it would be very difficult to create large murals to the level of detail that we can.

Finally

To sum up, take the time to ensure that you meet all safety needs for each project. Plan out all the paint the methods in your studio beforehand. Make sure the techniques you will be using are proper for the scale and style of the project. Painting a large scale mural on the side of a building can be very exhausting and dangerous. You should get comfortable with the fact that at the end of each day your body will be tired, your feet will swell and you may get a sunburn from time to time. However, never let your tiredness get in the way of safety. Always double check all aerial equipment. Plan well and you will be prepared for any obstacle that comes your way.

You can reach out to us HERE with any questions for your next project. Our studio offers professional artists with years of experience and a broad range of artistic styles. Although, we are local Miami artists we travel for many national and international projects. Cheers and until next time!

All images are copywritten by The Color Dreamers LLC