Recently I had the opportunity to do some patch-up work on a mural at Brooks Hill Winery in Bullitt County, Kentucky. While it may seem like a small project on the surface, it feels like an important step for me. Murals and larger-scale work are something I’ve been slowly working toward in my practice for a while in Kentucky. I’ve created murals in past places I’ve lived, but hadn’t gotten the chance to do any work here yet.
For a long time I wasn’t sure if I felt fully ready to take on projects at that scale, but recently I’ve started to feel more confident about stepping into them. Beginning with something like this mural repair feels like the right way to ease into that direction. It gives me the opportunity to work on a larger surface while still allowing space to learn, adjust, and grow into that type of work naturally. Though, what also excites me about this opportunity isn’t just the mural itself—it’s the relationship that’s forming around the work. In addition to helping patch up their mural, I created the artwork for one of their wine can labels!
This mural repair became the next step in our collaboration, and the next project on the horizon will be repainting their large outdoor statue. Instead of being a one-time commission, it’s turning into an ongoing creative relationship, something I really value in my work. I always love when a relationship with a client grows over time through the artwork. I’ve talked in the past about how much relationships mean to me, and this collaboration with Brooks Hill is an example of that. I care about the people I work with beyond the single project, and I take a lot of pride in being a reliable creative resource for the businesses and individuals who trust me with their spaces and ideas.
Before (wait for it!)
After!
Working with a local winery in Bullitt County also reminds me how important community connection is to my practice. Projects like this allow me to contribute something tangible to a place where people gather, celebrate, and spend time together. Art becomes part of the environment, letting it be accessed in a different way than a painting on the wall would be. This mural patch-up may seem like a small step, but for me it represents something bigger: growing into larger creative opportunities while building long-term relationships within my community. I’ll keep you all posted on our next project!
Yours truly,
Makara