Mill Pond Mural Trenton, NC

Today was the first day on the Mill Pond Mural in downtown Trenton, NC.  This mural was first completed by a group of art students from Jones County Senior High School.  It was painted about 5 years ago, I believe. 

Over the years the elements have taken a toll on it and the new owner of the building has asked me to work on it to restore its beauty.  Luke McKinney is the owner and he loves art and is an artist himself.  He owns the Rag Bag in Trenton, next to Gypsy's Cafe and Red Willows.  These entrepreneurs are friends first, business owners second and they are dedicated to offering hospitality and wonderful items in their stores.  If you have not been, please come to visit them, they are one of a kind small town treasures.

The mural was a little daunting this morning after I left Bible Study at the Methodist church.  Bud Morton is the pastor and this morning was a wonderful gathering for all who attended.  After study some lucky lilies took up residence in the Prayer Garden from Claudia and Johnny home near by.  Spending a little time in the garden was heavenly because of the beautiful weather.

When I got to Luke's building I took one look at the mural and immediately asked God for His presence, and sure enough, He came.  The mural has already started to look very impressionistic, and I know the final product will be beautiful.  Hopefully the integrity of the wall will work with the new paint and poly products added so it will last for a long time.

So keep watching it's transformation.


Thanks Luke for this opportunity......art in Trenton is so important to all of us. 

We welcome you to our town filled with art and love.  k

Angel

I haven't blogged for some time.  But now as the summer comes to an end, there is a project that is near and dear to my heart.  It is the Prayer Garden at the Trenton United Methodist Church in Trenton, NC.  Our pastor, Bud Morton, is a special person to God and all of us.  He is near and dear to a lot of our hearts and I hear from God when I listen to him preach.  It is quite refreshing.

We started the prayer garden in April and now in November it will be dedicated to God, the congregation and to those who wander upon it just by accident as they travel the streets of Trenton.  The angel will be not displayed on the blog until the dedication in November.  I want her to reach out and touch you for the very first time, if you are not a Trentonian, by way of the Internet.

I started to paint her a few times and scraped her out more than once.  I really began to wonder if I would be able to bring her to life, but as you all  know God always shows up when you need Him most.

It only took two days of about 10 hours of painting, drawing and observing as she became real right in front of my eyes.  She is on a glass window that was bought at a garage sale in New Bern, NC.  The window which is about 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall is quite heavy but sturdy.  Claudia Henley, the owner of Air Frames in Trenton is framing the window and putting Plexiglas on both sides to help the angel last for a long time. 

Thank you for continuing to check the blog.

Upcoming projects will include:

Mill Pond revision in downtown Trenton and a Sunflower mural next Spring.

We are continuing to finish our upstairs and are closing in on the final details.  Can't way to have a studio again.  I have two students right now and I have to say Carter has just finished his first acrylic painting and we are very proud of him.

Christmas Card design for some friends will be my home project for the next two months and we have travel plans in September and October, then it will be good weather I hope to do a few barn quilts prior to Christmas.

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.


Peace

k

Solomon's Temple Complete

May 15th to June 14th, 2011 a mural became a reality......thank you Betty Heath for being a painter with me, and thank you friends for carrying me through......to completion.  We painted for a total of 20 days during this period.  Some days alone, some days with Grandma and Betty, but every day with God.  Awewinds means:  the winds carry the picture from the paint brush to the wall, canvas, board or window.  The winds of those who help me and others bring the picture to this dimension.

Today Betty Heath and I put the final touches on the mural.  The gold columns were treated to a rounding affect.  Then the river behind the aqueduct was changed to a bluer water to reflect the sky.  The aqueduct was trimmed in a gray, brown, green mixture of paint, and the bulls received their platform.  The two darker bulls also were dressed with a bit of gold.

As Betty and I stepped away to take a look at the final touches, we were amazed at how 3-d this mural looks in person.

I hope you get a chance to go and look at it.  It is on Huffermantown Road just down from the McDonald's on the opposite of the road.  You can see just a bit of it after you turn on Huffermantown Road, pass the trees and then you can see it boldly.

I gave Jane the color card for Merwin, and donated a gallon of sealer.  I also appreciated the gift you gave me and Betty.  This covered a myriad of needs. 

A final picture will be added after the temple is sealed. The sealer changes the colors and makes them darker so look for it sometime next week.




Thanks Masons for the opportunity to paint this mural it is the largest done so far, and Betty hung in there and painted like a champion.  So THANKS to all for the good prayers, wishes and just all around support during this time.  There was one point when I had thought I would have to quit because I didn't know how to do this large of a job with just ladders, but Wynne Kenworthy loaned me two, Mr. Gurganus loaned me two 40 foot ladders and the job got done.......what a blessing...thank you. Peace.

k

Finalizing Soloman's Temple in Richlands, NC

Here are some new pictures of Solomon's Temple in Richlands, NC

Today, Betty Heath and I spent some time going over the wall with extra care.  Next Monday will be the final touches and then the Mason's will seal the mural.

Today the bull bowl came in.  Last Sunday afternoon, Jane, Grandma and I studied the Internet to see what we could find out about Solomon's Temple.  We know it stood for 410 years and then was destroyed.   We know that the Ark of the Covenant was housed there and gold was used in the building.  It was a place of God.  

Nebuchadnezzar destroyed this temple.

This has been the largest mural completed in record time.  I attribute this to my helper Betty Heath, Wilbur and Jane Gurganus and Merwin, Willow, the gang at Gypsy's and my family.  Tony and Grandma are always my number one fans.  Tony helped me plot the points on the building, and then came back this past Monday and corrected some angles that were not quite right.  It took him all of about 15 minutes to help with some building issues.  I don't think I thanked him enough for that so THANK YOU TONY.  Gram was a spotter for me.  She was especially helpful with the sky.  I stood on a 20 foot ladder and she would say up, down, too much, stop or beautiful.  I loved that beautiful word.  My spirit began to soar when Betty and I were working on the bulls because I knew the mural was a success because of all the people who had helped, prayed, offered words of encouragement and loved me through the hard days, and the person that helped me knows who they are.  THANK YOU!

Today one of the town planners stopped by and said the town loves the mural.  He couldn't quit talking about the vision of the Mason's to allow this painting to be completed.  Betty and I were pleasantly pleased to hear this.  A school worker stopped by, people would honk and say good job, or how amazingly real this mural looked.  We looked at each other but we know there are things that go on while painting structures that are just plain miracles. The mural is one!

 The hardest week is the first and you realize you have just put paint on a pristine white building and now you are really committed to producing what you have said you can do.  Now the friends, prayers and just plain hard work takes place.  But if you persevere you will be successful.  It took allot of hands and time to produce this and I thank each and everyone of you.

We will sign the wall on Monday, and begin again, somewhere spreading paint for someone.

This last pictures is about 1/4 mile from the painting.  You can see old paint truck, the lodge and the place where a blank wall turned into a painting.....thank you Masons for the opportunity.

K. Rowland

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday was a great day to be in Onslow County.  The sea breeze was amazing.  Painting went well.  I am still having trouble mixing the free paint to get the right colors, but I will again try on Monday.  I am working on the details of the building.  It is a long haul up those ladders, down again, change paint, just to make one stroke and then get down to see if it was right.  This is a special mural for some pretty special people, but it is reminding me that I am humbled at the size of the wall.  I had a hard time this week thinking about how to get everything right.  And then I just came home on Wednesday, took off Thursday because Gram and I had a lot of errands to run, see the doctor and pick up building supplies for Tony.  The day went quickly and my mantra was "be grateful."  Be grateful about everything.  Even the wall and the process it takes to get to the turning point of believing one can complete it and see it as beautiful up there on a concrete wall, and not just in your mind.

So this is where I am.  I covet your thoughts....but I know being grateful is a huge part of this process.  I welcome the beautiful end of a special mural for some very special people.

Mervin, Wilbur, Jane, Ann, Kelly, Sandy, all the Onslow group that supports with keys, ladders, trips to see me and the compliments you so readily share.  Words cannot explain how important support is, and I feel supported by your entire group.  Be blessed, and know I am in this until it is successful.

Love you guys.  k

Solomon's Temple

One week ago Betty Heath and I started a mural for the Masons in Richlands, NC.  Tony and I have two very special friends called Wilbur and Jane, they are wonderful and they know why this mural is important to me.  Thank you both, and Merlin for asking me to paint Solomon's Temple for your group.  I gladly accepted.

I have attached a few pictures to show you what progress has been made in a week's time.  Periodically you will see more pictures as the days pass.

This will be my last mural.  I have completd 8 in the past 2 years and now I will return to my studio to do some personal painting of my own.  So thank you all for the wonderful opportunities.

Here are some shots of what is happening now in Richlands, NC.

You can make out the temple door, an alter with the beginnings of a smoke colum, and an aquaduct which has some scenery in the door ways of the aquaduct.  Betty Heath experienced the power of the building just Friday.  I was working on the high part of the building painting the blue, and Betty was working on some clouds that were to go in the doorways of the aquaduct and found out how clouds quickly turned into scenery of a heavenly type.  The trees, water and flow of the picture changed and she saw it immediately and said I am not painting clouds, I am painting trees....look at that.

That was a moment for me.  She is a student of mine and she has painted about 50 paintings in the last 3 months.  Some of the paintings are endearing, some are moving, but all are from her heart.  You can see her paintings at Red Willows in Trenton, NC.  She is a brand new painting artist but she has worked in design, and creation for many years.  Please stop by and see her work, it is totally North Carolina, and I know locals will love the colors, subjects and the person you will meet one day...Betty Heath.

So keep watching and know we appreciate the time you give us on this blog.

  K. Rowland

Meadows Murals Finalized

The barn is finished at Gwen and Tim Meadows home on Wyse Fork Road.  It took a lot of conversation to get the story about the Meadows Farm, but finally the people and part of the history of the farm is complete.  Gwen was most informative about the past, and the people who were part of her life from birth.  Most of you know Gwen and Tim, know their love of this land and the people who shared it with them.  This remarkable working farm is magnificent to behold as the Willows move in the wind, the Martins fly up and down, the animals abound and the two little girls that are now experiencing what Gwen experienced as a child.  The story will never be told because it is being created everyday by the people who still live in the farm house in Jones county on Wyse Fork Road.

Thank you Gwen and Tim for allowing the paint to bring to life a part of your history, a part of your future and the love you have for the gift from God.  He is your life, your path and your light shines bright here in North Carolina.

PJ, Gwen's son, had some input on this part of the mural about his grandaddy....it was all about the white socks so as you can see those white socks do stand out.  Gwen had a horse named Katie, and the horse in the valley is to remember "Katie" Gwen's special horse.  Gwen still has Bell, and she is also on the mural in a small area by the mountain behind Gwen's Dad.  Gwen loves the mountains.  So this side part of the barn is just for her.

Tim is still looking for a place for "Jerry," his favorite dog which is really Gwen's dog because Jerry loves to be around Gwen most of the time.  This was an amazing opportunity......thank you both Gwen and Tim for the use of your barns.  k