Mural Monday — Mural 5
- Ana Gabriela
- Dec 29, 2025
- 3 min read
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 açaà 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.
What It Taught Me
This mural taught me one of the hardest and most important lessons of my career: always protect your work, your time, and yourself — no matter who the client is.
I learned that a contract is not optional. It doesn’t matter if the client is a friend, a family member, or someone you trust deeply. A contract sets expectations, protects both sides, and ensures that everyone is entering the project with clarity and integrity.
I also learned that no work should begin until the contract is signed and a deposit is paid. Not a sketch, not a design draft, and definitely not a full week of painting. Good intentions aren’t enough to run a sustainable business, and trust alone cannot take the place of clear agreements.
While the outcome was painful, financially, emotionally, and professionally, it shaped me into a stronger, wiser artist. It taught me to value my time, honor my boundaries, and run my business with the structure it deserves.
This mural may have been sealed behind a wall, but the lesson it left me with is something I carry into every project:
Your art has value, and the process that protects it matters just as much as the art itself.