Well, this is the second time I did a thing. And I’ve taken a liking to it.

Murals.

Community beautification projects.

Large-scale paintings.

Our little beach community spent the last two weekends refurbishing and painting existing murals that, from time to time, need a little improvement. As a long-time resident and local surfer of this little hidden gem, this spot has always been one of my favorites, not only because of the quality of waves, but also because of the ever-evolving murals that grace our presence while changing in and out of our wetsuits.

Like all street art, these beach murals are have been in flux over the years, much like the ebb and flow of the tides and the wind-swept sands that blanket this parking lot.

From sun-parched, crackling neglected walls, to graffiti art and tagging (which by the way, are two very different things) these murals have served as a landmark for local residents and visitors alike, alongside the La Jenelle shipwreck and memorial.

More recently, La Jenelle has officially become part of the California Coastal Trail, where hikers could hike 1200 miles along the coast of California, from the Oregon border to Mexico. ‘The California Coastal Trail, or CCT, is an environmental project by the California Coastal Conservancy, an organization developed to enhance coastal resources and promote access to the shore in 2001. The trail is designed to connect the entire coast of California by forming an extensive hiking trail’.

I’ve had a deep admiration for these murals for many years, and I was thrilled to be part of this latest installation. This is the second mural project I’ve done, and I’ve officially fallen in love with the process of going BIG, large-scale.

Exhausting, yet creatively rewarding (and the reason why artists and designers are worth their weight in gold), there is significant value in the role of creatives bringing beauty and joy to the world. If we as a community of creative souls could visually connect with people’s hearts and minds in an emotional way, then we have done our job as artists.

Which (side rant) brings me to TWO points I’d like to make after having reflected on this experience. One for the amateur artist and one for the professional artist:

1) To my lovely creative souls who don’t do art for a living: YOU are a living, breathing, mother-flipping, loving, CREATIVE BEING. So, for the love of all that is good in the world, please stop saying, “I’m not an artist” and claim your gift of imagination and creativity. Give yourself some damn credit and stop being so hard on yourself. You are human. You have a creative birth right. You always have and always will be a creative being. Pleeease. Let that inner child come out and play, enough with the self-criticism, and invite more creative joy into your heART.

2) To my brilliant professional creatives who do do art for a living: Art, creativity, design…coming up with solutions to complex problems comes soooo easy for you. This is your jam. Know your worth. Get generously compensated for your creative brilliance, for the time, effort, mental, and physical labor that goes into the creative process. You are a professional. People place a higher value in creativity than we usually give ourselves credit for so give yourself permission to bask in that creative abundance. Money is your ally, as are contracts. Learn to play with numbers. Learn to advocate for yourself. Learn how to love art and business. Embrace and honor your Right Livelihood.

Okay, now go create (and please enjoy our lovely murals before they get tagged)! Go, go, go……xoxo