Mural Monday — Mural 4

The Mural That Opened Doors

It took a little time to land my next mural project. My first mural at The Valiant Ballroom was completed in March 2022, but my next opportunity didn’t come until that May. I went back to the same approach that got me started, talking to anyone who had a wall and asking if I could paint it.

After weeks of putting myself out there again, Kindred Vancouver in downtown Vancouver reached out and asked me to paint their back door for Vancouver’s Spruce the Couve initiative, a citywide effort run by the Vancouver Downtown Association to get people excited about cleaning up and beautifying our community.

I got the email about the job just minutes before boarding a flight to visit friends and immediately said yes. Somewhere between airport layovers and midair Wi-Fi, I realized I’d have to design on the plane and while visiting my friend, then gather supplies, and be ready to paint only three hours after landing back home in just three days.

So I spent every flight sketching and refining my design, determined to make it happen. Three days later, while waiting for my flight home, I got the official design approval from the client. The moment I landed, I headed straight to the supply store, loaded up on paint, and within three hours was standing in front of Kindred’s door, brush in hand, painting what would become my fourth mural.

What It Taught Me

This mural taught me more than I expected. First, it was a powerful reminder of patience and persistence. Even when someone says no, it doesn’t mean the door is closed forever. This client originally turned me down, but months later, they circled back with an opportunity I never could’ve predicted. It reinforced how much timing matters in this work. A “no” today might very easily become a “yes” when the moment is right.

It also showed me firsthand that small projects can have an enormous impact. This wasn’t the biggest wall I’d ever painted, but it became one of the most meaningful. That little door mural created momentum, opened new possibilities (literally and figuratively), and helped shape the direction my career would take next.

And on a more practical note, it helped me discover just how much I love working on scaffolding. After spending so much time on ladders, stepping onto something more stable and gentle on the body felt like a game-changer. It made the entire experience smoother, safer, and way more enjoyable (sadly, I didn't think to buy one till years later, but I least I got it together at one point).

Supply List

You’ll find a little supply list at the bottom of each post with the items I used, just in case you want to snag any of them for your own projects.

• Scaffolding

• Tripod