Mural 62, Walnut Elementary, Ashville, Ohio
I was thrilled to go back to Walnut
Elementary as a guest artist/author. Of course, that demanded a
little preparation and conversation. And, since the school is
located just outside of Columbus, where I live, it was best that
everything be discussed face-to-face. Not a problem at all, since
it is such a scenic location in Ohio's farm country.
I knew what was going to take place, and I already knew what I was going
to talk about. The surprise came when the principal said it would
be good to have one more mural to celebrate the occasion. The
school already had ten mini-murals that I made four years ago.
But, they were painted in the summer and I was an invisible
artist. This time, I was going to have a face.
Boy! Did I ever have a face!
My author visit to Walnut Elementary was a full two-months before the
mural project began. The students had plenty of time to learn my
name. After all, the librarian had read several of my books to
them. Additionally, I visited the school and gave my
presentation. And, finally, they all had their socks knocked off
while I told "Spider and the Honey Tree".
Yep, everybody knew my name.
Since approximately 500 students knew my name, it felt like someone was
always calling out, "Phillip Martin!" I've never heard my name
used so many times. And, everyone one of them wanted to paint the
mural with me. I'm very thankful that I wasn't the one to choose
who painted and who didn't. I was very happy to claim innocence.
Just like with all of my murals, I never come up with a theme. I
always get it from people at the location where the mural is
painted. This was no exception. The idea came when the librarian
discussed the mural with some fifth graders. Now, that has not always
been very successful in the past. But, a group of three kids came
up with a winning idea. I knew it as soon as I heard their
suggestion. And, no surprise, it earned the three of them the chance to
paint with me.
At Walnut Elementary, the kids are daily urged to be a Walnut H.E.R.O. (which stands for Hard-Working,
Encouraging, Responsible,
and Optimistic). My very
favorite murals are the ones I design with letters that are
illustrated. So, it was a pleasure to create this design.
They wanted a design that was exactly what I wanted to create.
Win-win!
Unlike the other murals in their building, the students watched it come
together, step-by-step. Actually, everyone watched it because it
was in the most central location in the building. As soon as you
enter the school, this mural is directly in front of you.
While the students were delighted to watch the progress and participate,
I have learned through experience that there is one thing that drives
many of them crazy. I always save the eyes for last. It's
kind of like saving the best for last or finally eating dessert.
And, I've been told, many times by kids all over the world, that the
people look like soulless zombies until they finally get their
eyes. So, seriously, why would I ever put the eyes up any sooner?
It took a week to paint the mural at the school. My volunteer
painters ranged from Kindergarten to Grade Five. Throughout the
whole experience, I was made to feel like a real celebrity. And,
that is something so unusual for me. But, alas, the mural is
finished and my time at Walnut Elementary is over. I'm back home
and no longer famous. But, in one corner of Ohio, at an elementary
school surrounded by farmland, everybody knows my name and I am an
artist, author, and muralist.