A First Step into Public Art
A few months ago, I said definitively "yes" to something that I always have wanted to do: paint a mural in a public park.
It was my first mural project—and while I’ve worked on large canvases before and even painted tall backdrops for theater stages, this felt different. Public. Permanent. And beautifully unpredictable.
The Project
The mural wasn’t just one wall—it was made up of six side by side panels, each about 9 feet wide and 4.5 feet high.
At first, the scale felt manageable, but the challenge came in the coordination: it was meant to be completed in less than one week. That meant long hours, changing light, and weather that refused to cooperate.
💡 Lesson learned: Even the lightest sprinkle means stop everything—because even paint that looks dry can suddenly start dripping, even several minutes later.
Nature as the Guide
What grounded me was the purpose behind the project. The mural was part of an initiative, called Asilvestrar, in Quito, Ecuador, which creates harmonious and habitable friendly spaces for different areas of the city. My assignment, at a park on Carapungo sector, was to design a mural for young children, so they notice and learn about flowers, plants, and insects.
That mission stayed in my mind with every brushstroke.
Letting Others In
One of the most unexpected parts of this project was working with volunteers.
I knew ahead of time that a group would be coming, but when they all arrived—from young children to grandparents, smiling and ready—I was suddenly faced with something I hadn’t prepared for: task delegation.
I’m used to painting alone, moving at my own rhythm. Now, I had to guide, explain, and figure out how to make space for everyone’s energy. And what an energy it was.
They came with the most beautiful desire: to help, to be part of something, to cover the wall with color and care. Many had never painted before, but that didn’t matter. I met beautiful spirits—people who simply wanted to make the community better, and who also wanted to enjoy the act of making art together.
What moved me most was seeing how, despite the differences in age or skill, everyone was working toward the same goal—and genuinely enjoying every moment of it. The laughter, the focus, the pride in every brushstroke… it filled the space with something much bigger than just paint.
That wasn’t always easy for me, but it was absolutely necessary for the mural’s success. And in the end, it became one of the most rewarding parts of the whole experience.
What Remains
By the end of the week, I was sore, sun-kissed, and covered in paint—but deeply satisfied.
The mural came to life not just through my hands, but through community effort. It’s more than just painted walls—it’s a piece of shared energy.
A story about art, nature, and collaboration that lives in the park, for children and neighbors to see every day.
"What’s your favorite memory of creating something with others?"
