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Dreamed Many Things
Scale: Spans across the entire wall height of the wall, also very wide. The human figure is large but not dominant. The “portals” that the human figure is bouncing between each take up almost a half of the painting. Composition: The human figure diving between each “portal” is the main focus. She isn’t very large but still prominent, takes up about a third of the entire mural’s width and half the height which is large enough to immediately draw the viewer’s eye but not so large that it takes up all the space on the wall. The remaining space is filled with vibrant “swirling” forms that spin around the diver’s trajectory, making the subject the primary focus but keeping her environment important as well. Pictorial space: There is a striking sense of depth and spatial energy through both color and overlapping forms. With this swirling effect, there is a clear sense of what is behind the “swirl” (or “portal”) and what is in front of it - It is almost like the viewer fixed inside of a hallow donut looking toward the center. The diver overlaps all the wavey bands around her which clearly put her in the foreground, like she is swimming around this hallow donut. Form: The swirly shapes and patterns evoke eyes or galaxies. The most prominent figurative form is the diving human. The human acts as a bridge between solid form and this flowing energy between this human and the universe around it. Line: There is a defined contour line that outlines the diver’s body from its surrounding environment. Around the diver, thick lines define the swirling, trippy wave-like shapes and they form this visual vortex that pulls the viewer’s eyes toward the diving figure. Color: Shades of purple primarily dominate the scene. But, there are two main color groups - on the left, darker purples and black dominate; On the right, colors of the rainbow dominate. The diver is jumping from the “portal” of this darker color group to the “portal” of this rainbow color group. The other color group that occupies the space are lighter shades of purple that is used to identify space as “neutral” – space that isn’t either dark or “light” (rainbow) which lies between these two portals. Light: The artist doesn’t attempt to imitate real light. The diver is in this dimension where every element is seeming equally illumined, even the waves of color deeper into the portal are just as illuminated as the colors “closer” to the viewer (not tucked in the background). Tone: The artists colored the “waves” deeper into the portal a darker shade/tone The use of these “darker” toned gives a sense that the diver is emerging from and diving into depth. Texture: The diver and flowing color bands appear visually smooth and fluid, defined by the soft gradients and clean edges in each step in the waves. Pattern: There are repeated shapes, again like eyes or galaxy swirls, that span across each band of color like a link where each link is the shape. Each link in the this “chain” in every band of color is mostly made of bright, contrasting/conflicting color for the bands in the left portal, and the colors of the chain patterns in the right portal blend more with the color of the bands they wrap around in. -
Pablo Kalaka YWCA Abstract
This very colorful mural on the YWCA building in Minneapolis is a very energetic piece of art that brings life to the brick wall. The artist has chosen to use a very bright color palette with colors such as orange, pink, red, purple, black, and blue to make the wall stand out and give the dull brick more character. The mural is made up of many figures and shapes such as hands, lines, circles, and assorted curves that move and connect with each other and the other shapes. The design and use of these figures give the mural a playful tone with a lot of motion and moving parts making the wall very dynamic. Rather than a realistic scene, the artist goes for a more abstract approach for this mural and uses the color and shape to express more emotion and meaning. The big contrasts with the color palette and the many moving parts in the picture draws attention to the wall as a whole and not just to one specific or central part of the mural. The dynamic parts could be some kind of symbolism for a sense of community or teamwork. Overall, the mural gives much creativity and color to an otherwise bland and generic brick wall. The abstract style leaves messaging up to interpretation. The art work helps the building feel more welcoming with symbols of community, creativity, and togetherness in a very publicly visible area -
Behind Flavors
The composition of this mural is unique from a lot of murals because of the layout of its subjects. In regards to balance and symmetry, this mural is quite interesting because the subjects of the piece (i.e., the bee, the butterfly, the flower, etc.) are not perfectly in line. The subjects are all off center and most of them are only partially seen, as some of the images are cut off or are not seen completely. For example, as you can see the pink flower is mostly seen, but part of the top and bottom petals get cut off from the mural. I found this to be interesting given that there are multiple different subjects of this mural. This also makes the focal points quite interesting because there are multiple and not just one subject that takes all the focus, all of the subjects have their own focus within the mural. The color palette used is one of a mix of bright and bold colors and then darker colors mostly used for outlining purposes. As you can see, subjects like the cherries, the flowers, the butterfly, etc. are all created using bright and bold reds, blues, pinks, purples, etc. On the other hand, however, the insects in the mural have some darker colors such as black and brown. All of the subjects of this mural have some sort of outline in black, which only makes the other colors seem more bright and bolder. It creates a contrast that makes the mural and its aspects stand out that much more. The colors used in this mural enhance the mood and tone because of the color choice that was utilized and the outline of black. These two aspects make the mural pop and stand out to people who are passing by. It creates a tone of positivity because of the bright colors that were used and the subjects that were used. Lynda Grafito all different types of lines in this mural to enhance the shape of the subjects. Grafito utilizes some straight lines and a lot of curved lines to create the flowers, the insects, etc. All of these lines vary in thinness and thickness. The thinness or thickness of the lines depends on which subject they are used in and how bold Grafito wanted the black outline to be. These lines help to create an emphasis on the color, given that the black paint is very contrasting to a lot of the bright colors, like the yellow paint used. The impact these lines have is that it makes the mural much more bold and they make it pop more due to the contrast between the lines and what it is they are outlining. There are also lines within the subjects, like in the body of the blue butterfly. These lines help to make the subjects more realistic and add so much to the dimension of the flowers, insects, etc. The mural’s texture was very bumpy, as that is the texture of the wall it is painted on, but the texture is also enhanced by the color variation and blending. The texture enhances the view of the mural for the people who see it because it contributes to making it more noticeable and catching peoples’ eyes. The texture helps to bring out the color and shape of the subjects of this mural. The background of this mural is a solid grey-blue color which helps to bring out the rest of the spaces that are meant to be the subject of the mural. The space used for the subject is the center of the mural and takes up the middle ground and almost the entirety of the space as some of the subjects get cut off, as mentioned previously. This creates both depth and dimension for the subjects of the mural as it makes them appear to have more shadow and uses lighter colors to show that. -
"Clubhouse City"
Composition: This mural features cartoonish animals in a colorful setting. There is a cat in a barn, a bird in a milk carton, another bird in a tree, a flowerpot, and another bird on top of the barn. Dominguez arranges the elements of Clubhouse City with a dynamic sense of balance and flow, drawing the eye smoothly across the mural. The composition is asymmetrical, giving it a sense of natural movement and energy.
Color: This mural uses many bright colors, including orange, yellow, light blue, and pink, contributing to its happy, cheerful tone. The color palette is vibrant, dominated by warm, earthy tones mixed with occasional pops of cool blues and greens. This choice creates a sense of warmth and community, reinforcing the mural’s inviting and lively atmosphere. The combination of colors brings an energetic and upbeat mood, reflecting the communal spirit of a “clubhouse” environment.
Line: This art uses straight and rounded lines as outlines for the objects in the building other than the tree, which helps the shapes pop and creates a 3D effect. Dominguez uses thick, bold, thinner, more delicate lines throughout the mural. Curved lines give the piece fluidity, while the occasional use of straight lines helps to define the structural aspects.
Texture: This wall is half concrete and half brick, splitting the mural into two and contributing to its effect. Also, different areas feel rougher or smoother to the eye. This layering adds a sense of physical depth to the mural, inviting viewers to move closer to examine the details.
Space: This piece uses a 3D effect; the bottom middle of the mural is the front, and as you look up, the artist uses lines to make the trees appear farther away. Dominguez’s use of space is particularly effective in creating depth. He utilizes a foreground, middle ground, and background, arranging elements to make the mural feel like a miniature city extending back into space. This depth effect is achieved by layering and varying the scale of elements, with smaller, lighter-colored forms receding into the background while bolder, darker elements remain closer. -
Little Ancestors & Land Back
“Little Ancestors” depicts two Indigenous female characters, one is wearing a hat, along with mushrooms, the sun, and a mountain, all smiling. They are in a nature scene with a river, trees, and the blue sky. It uses natural colors including blues, reds, and greens. They are bright in color, but remain something you would find in nature. The two human characters are placed in the foreground to emphasize their presence. The characters depict two native women. The texture is very smooth with only a little texture found on the trees. Otherwise, it would be smooth to the touch. The mural is drawn in a style known as kawaii. Kawaii is a Japanese artistic and cultural style that emphasizes the quality of cuteness using bright colors and characters with a childlike appearance. “Land Back” depicts fruit (strawberries, grapes, blueberries) and animals (a hummingbird and a frog) as its characters. They are all smiling. This mural uses bright pastel colors that are not natural including pink, blue, green, and purple. The title “Land Back” is drawn in bubble letters and centered on the wall which works to draw your attention immediately to the wording. The mural includes different colors of hearts, clouds, and sparkles in the background. This mural has little texture. Everything is very smooth besides the seeds drawn on the strawberries. -
Sometimes Water Keeps You Grounded
Sydney James's mural, Sometimes Water Keeps You Grounded, masterfully blends realism, abstraction, and playful illustration to create a dynamic and immersive composition. At the heart of the piece is a realistic portrait of a young child, placed prominently on the left side. The child’s detailed face serves as the primary focal point, drawing viewers in with its lifelike qualities. This portrait is balanced by a vibrant, abstract background on the right, featuring stylized, colorful elements that contrast with the realism of the child. This asymmetrical arrangement creates a harmonious composition, with the figure and background engaging in a dynamic visual dialogue. The color palette plays a crucial role in establishing the mural’s mood and tone. The warm tones of the child's red shirt contrasts with the cooler blues, purples, and greens in the background. This combination of warm and cool colors evokes a sense of vitality and calmness, suggesting themes of grounding and fluidity. The playful, cartoonish design on the shirt, with its bold blues and pinks, adds an element of whimsy that further enriches the narrative and visual interest. James uses a variety of lines to add depth and movement to the mural. Curved, organic lines dominate the child's face, creating a natural, lifelike quality, while thicker, straight lines appear throughout the composition to establish structure and flow. The illustration on the shirt features bold, smooth lines typical of cartoons, providing a playful contrast to the realism of the portrait. This interplay between soft, flowing lines and sharper, defined edges adds complexity and keeps the composition dynamic. The murals texture enhances its visual impact with the soft shading of the child's face contrasting against the flatter graphic design of the shirt and the shimmering, almost glass-like background. The thoughtful use of space further contributes to the mural's depth, with the child in the foreground and the background elements receding, creating a layered immersive experience. Overall, the mural is a vibrant exploration of identity, imagination, and expression.