MURAL MAKERS
Animal Sunset
Mural Artist: Lee Lanier
Artist Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
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The client, an elementary school in Las Vegas, asked for a painting that features a local landscape and local animals with a falcon in the center (the school mascot). The background is based on a real nearby vista and a popular hiking trail. The animals are all local and include a roadrunner, coyote, and jackrabbit.
About the Mural:
Name: Animal Sunset
Size: 32′ w x 15′ h
Products used:
KILZ 2® Primer and Golden Paintworks Mural & Theme Paint (primaries: red, yellow, blue, black, white)
Location:
Las Vegas, Nevada (The mural is inside a school and cannot be accessed directly by the public.)
About the Maker
I love old stories. Hence, when creating public murals or canvas paintings, I focus on history, such as historical figures, locations, and events; or literature, such as plays, parables, and mythology; or local landscapes and local wildlife. The stories often come from a wide array of sources, both historically and culturally; nevertheless, I try to tap into universal themes that are, hopefully, relatable to a wide range of people. The themes are often metaphysical and cover such areas as creativity, industry, perseverance, and exploration. Stylistically, my work is narrative and gives nod to Renaissance tableau, classic advertising illustration, and a bit of Surrealism.
What is your creative process like?
With a mural, I start with the theme requested by the client and try to figure out how to put my own unique spin on it. I’ll then create a simple drawing to determine the composition. After this, I move on to a preliminary painting. When the design is approved and it’s time to work on the mural, I freehand paint with brushes. I may use a grid as a rough guide but I never use a projector or any app that lets you trace. I only use primary colors and mix new colors on site or blend on the mural surface. In other words, I treat my mural surface like any other canvas that I might paint in my studio! For large murals, I do use assistants to keep on a tight schedule. This particular mural took 12 days over 3 weeks.
Do you have any other projects coming up that you’d like to share anything about?
I have several additional murals lined up with the Clark County School District, plus one for a large corporate retailer that will be placed in Ohio. My next solo show is at the Yuma Art Center this summer and will feature my latest set of figurative canvas paintings.
See more of Lee Lanier’s work:
Website: lee-lanier-paints.com
Instagram: @leelanierpaints
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