Mural #5

The Mural No One Got to See

My fifth mural is both my favorite and my saddest piece to date. I was hired by a juice bar to recreate one of my original paintings and turn it into a massive mural meant to capture the essence of the Big Island and bring it to the Vancouver Waterfront. The goal was to create a space that felt warm and tropical, even in the middle of our gray winters, where anyone walking in would instantly feel ready for a refreshing smoothie or a bright, energizing açaí bowl.

I was so excited about this project, especially because it seemed like I would be paid fairly for my work. But little did I know, that wouldn’t be the case...

As the scheduled paint date in June grew closer, I received plenty of updates about construction and timelines, but no contract, no deposit, and no written agreement. At the time, I didn’t realize how big of a red flag that was. I trusted the client, who was also a dear friend, and truly believed everything would be fine.

I spent a full week painting this mural, paying for all the supplies myself and blocking out my calendar so I could dedicate my entire focus to it. The finished piece was everything I envisioned, vibrant, bold, and full of movement.

But the day before I wrapped up, I asked about payment again, and the conversation kept getting deflected. It ended without any clear plan or intention of payment.

My heart sank. I felt used and taken advantage of. Still, I refused to leave my work unfinished. I completed the mural, took a few beautiful photos, and then sat in my car and cried. I had just lost out on $5,000, money that would have helped me pay my bills, and to make it worse, I was handed a $50 tip.

The juice bar never opened. It went bankrupt before the grand opening, and my mural, my masterpiece, was sealed behind a false wall. The space eventually became a Salt & Straw, and my mural remains hidden to this day.

Maybe someday it will be seen again, but if that day ever comes, it will likely be years from now.