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spray paint

The Magnificent Murals of Hutchinson, Kansas

August 26, 2021 by Vanessa Whiteside 2 Comments

Disclosure: Visit Hutch sponsored this post. However, all opinions and photographs are my own.

Magnificent murals are waiting to be discovered in Hutchinson, Kansas. The town boasts over 40 murals created by local artists that hide around corners and down alleyways. They peek at you from the tops of buildings and above passersby on Main Street. I encourage you to drive to Hutchinson from Wichita and find them, including a two-sided design at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

Visit Hutch commissioned local artist Brady Scott to complete a mural installation on their Visitor Information Center. The artwork features Hutchinson’s night skyline and state symbols: the meadowlark, sunflower, and wheat. The spray-painted piece was a partnership between Visit Hutch and Kansas Tourism. Visitors to the fair are encouraged to take selfies before the mural and tag #ToTheStarsKS on social media.

Scott, a Kansas native, has completed several murals in the state and his work is commissioned nationwide. Visitors to Hutchinson are bound to stumble upon his large-scale paintings. His contemporary style often includes animals, people, references to the prairie, and history.

Suited with a mask and gloves, he works primarily with spray paint in swift motions across his canvas. Scott often adds winged creatures to his murals, soaring with freedom over a scene. Now familiar with his work, I can recognize it anywhere. Scott has done several murals in Hutchinson.

Scott’s “Bison Trail” mural (411 S. Main) was completely painted by hand. I appreciated the small brushstrokes that gave the animal’s coat texture. The bison’s piercing blue eye looks down at you from above as if to say, “This is my home where I roam.” The Latin “Ad Astra Per Aspera” translates to “to the stars through difficulties” and adorns the work. The phrase is also found on the Kansas state flag, referring to the hardships Kansas went through to become one of the stars on the U.S. flag.

Mural seekers will discover a piece painted with a sun, moon, and stars on the side of Salt Creek Interior Design‘s building (214 S. Main). Painted by a high school student for a senior project, it draws the eyes of passersby. I’ve always enjoyed the juxtaposition of color and imagery. The mural sits adjacent to an empty lot easily accessible by foot.

As you drive down Main Street into the center of town, you will notice numerous murals, including “Community Mural” painted by Shaelee Mendenhall (29 S. Main). The artist added brightly colored landmarks to create a sense of hometown pride. She is the same artist who combined forces with Kylee Baldetti to paint the “Spread the Love” mural series featuring heart-shaped murals in Hutchinson.

Keeping your eyes peeled is key when looking for murals. The Chester I. Lewis Plaza (15 East 1st Ave.) is home to three murals. The first panel (left) is by Brendan Martinez, the middle panel is by Josh Tripoli and Rebekah Lewis, and the last panel (right) is by Jocelyn Woodson. I recommend parking on the street and walking up for a photograph of the murals. What thoughts come to mind when you view them?

The three-fold mural pictured below was finished in 2008 and serves as an anchor piece for the Reno County Farmer’s Market Pavillion (115 W. 2nd Street). It celebrates locally sourced produce in farm-to-table fashion. The outdoor summer market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May-October.

A mural by the local non-profit TECH provides a vibrant backdrop to Hutchinson’s downtown corridor at 14 West Avenue B. This one is by far one of my favorite murals in the city. It takes up an entire alleyway in width, and the design is incredibly intricate, requiring small brushstrokes. You must see it in person to fully appreciate the time and artistry involved in its creation.

Jose Ray painted this whimsical wonder on the side of a building at Avenue A Park in 2013. I love the way her eyes are looking up at the top window. Ray’s works typically include fantastical scenes painted using bright colors. When not painting murals, Ray works as a DJ spinning tunes.

“Farmer Time” (111 W. 2nd Ave.) by Brady Scott beautifies the side of Sandhills Brewing Company. It makes a good-looking backdrop for brewery fans who want to take a photo to document their visit.

“Ad Astra” (Avenue A and Main) painted by David Loewenstein in 2012 shows a night sky full of stars. But if you look closely, the constellations resemble symbols of the Sunflower State. Which ones do you recognize?

A ferris wheel, which I think references the Kansas State Fair, is part of “Ad Astra 2” near the constellations painting. Just below it figures enjoying Hutchinson attractions like the Cosmosphere and outdoor parks.

The “Rainbow Lion” (2 N. Main) leaves a big impression on downtown passersby. Painted by Jerimiah Tolbert, the colorful cat was commissioned by Bob and Ann Bush in 2018. It’s a stretched canvas print, but it looks like a mural from afar. The artist sells mini prints, coffee mugs, and cards featuring the lion here.

I’ve often taken photos of this pheasant in flight mural while visiting downtown Hutchinson. Brady Scott adorned the backside of Sandhills Brewing Company (111 W. 2nd Avenue) with the bird scene. Although referred to as the “Farmers Market Mural,” it suits the building well since the brewery’s interior is decorated with illustrations of feathered friends.

A hub of all things creative in town, the Hutchinson Art Center (405 N. Washington) showcases a mural on their building painted by Shaelee Mendenhall. It was completed in 2015. Do you see the city’s flag?

Hutchinson, Kansas, is a vibrant community with murals to match. A short drive from Wichita, I encourage you to visit the town and slowly drive up and down its downtown while looking at street art. Better yet? Park the car and walk through the downtown area. Not only will you see murals, but the town is decorated with public artwork of all kinds, including sculptures.

This mural round-up only scratches the surface of Hutchinson’s street art collection. To view more of them and locate their whereabouts, visit this link. Do you know of a mural or artist from Hutchinson that deserves a shout-out? Comment below with their name and the mural’s location. I’d love to add it to my drive when I return to town.

Filed Under: Kansas, Travel Tagged With: art, artists, community, downtown, fairgrounds, graffiti, graphic design, guerrilla art, Hutchinson, independent art, Kansas, Midwest, mural, mural tour, murals, paintings, public art, South Central Kansas, spray paint, street art, tour, urban art, walkable, wall

How to Rust Proof a Wrought Iron Raised Dog Dish Stand

May 23, 2017 by Vanessa 1 Comment

We are the products of a society that simply throws things away and replaces them when they break or don’t suit our tastes anymore.

Think: when is the last time you bought a duplicate of something you already owned?

Maybe it’s because I was raised in a do-it-yourself household, but I’m the type of person who first considers if they can fix or renovate something before buying it new, again. Plus, I feel accomplished knowing that I created or “re-created” something with my hands!

It seems like the idea of renovation is more popular than ever thanks to HGTV shows like Fixer Upper, Rehab Addict, and Home Town. What’s old is new again! Well, I decided to roll up my sleeves and refurbish our dog’s wrought iron raised dog dish stand after a couple years of neglect left it incredibly rusted and looking sad.

Before

Perhaps you don’t have a raised dog bowl stand, but I bet you also have a rusted metal plant stand or outdoor lantern that is beginning to look a bit sad too. No fear! In a few easy steps you can bring that tired piece of metal artwork back to it’s glory. Let’s get started.

Summon up that can-do spirit because we’re about to take this rusted piece of junk back to its original beauty. What is that gross white stuff anyway?

Because our 10 year-old dog Sasha laps her water wildly when she drinks, this wrought iron dog dish stand has suffered from quite a bit of rust. She has the longest tongue I’ve ever seen on a dog!

The first step to fixing this rust problem is to remove as much of it as possible using a metal brush.

A small metal brush like this one works well for curved metal projects because it allows you to get into the small grooves of metal to free loose pieces of rust.

After breaking loose every bit of rush from all sides of the stand, you can use a soft bristled brush or rag to clean up its surface.

After brushing the rust pieces loose from the metal stand, you can position it on top of old cardboard boxes or newspaper to prepare your space to cover it with Rust Stop indoor/outdoor spray paint.

Using smooth continuous strokes, spray all sides of the metal stand. Allow it to dry, turn it upside down, and spray the bottom sides of it as well. If you have to paint more than one coat, expect several hours of drying time.

This spray in particular is awesome to use because it not only prevents future rust but also paints your metal items just as great as any other brand of spray paint. TIP: After completely spraying your projects with canned spray paint, turn the can upside and spray it just a little bit more to keep the nozzle from clogging.

After

Looks like Sasha just got herself a refurbished metal dog dish that looks awesome. Of course, she didn’t even notice but I did!

Looks at this beauty!

What new potential do you see in your old metal pieces now? In a few DIY steps and a little effort, your old stuff can look new again.

Are you as obsessed with your dog as I am? You might also appreciate my post for Homemade Bacon Cheddar Dog Biscuits and Frozen Yogurt Pupcakes or check out my Facebook page for dog lovers to read more posts about dog care.

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: dish, DIY, do it yourself, dog, dog biscuits, dog food, dog water, Fixer Upper, food dish, frozen yogurt pupcakes, HGTV, Home Town, homemade, paint, paint brush, pup, puppy, refurbish, Rehab Addict, restoration, restore, rust, rust proof, spray paint, stand, steel brush, upcycle, wrought iron

How to Glamorize Dollar Store Frames

September 12, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Cruising down the aisles of trendy home goods stores, I’m always shocked at the sticker price for a simple picture frame. I love Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and World Market but my wallet doesn’t. As someone who likes to decorate for the seasons and change up my household decor, I refuse to pay high prices to display family photos. You can create the same gorgeous look for your photo frames without spending big bucks. All you need is a Dollar Store frame and a little spray paint!

Supplies Required:

$1 photo frame of your choice

Rust-oleum Universal Metallic Paint & Primer In One

Painter’s Tape

Cardboard or Newspaper

Step 1: Remove the inside glass, if possible. I was unable to remove the glass from the larger lime green frame on the right so I simply used painter's tape to cover it. Step 2: Lay out your Dollar Store photo frames on a flattened cardboard box or use newspaper on a flat surface.
Step 1: Remove the inside glass, if possible. I was unable to remove the glass from the larger lime green frame on the right so I simply used painter’s tape to cover it.
Step 2: Lay out your Dollar Store photo frames on a flattened cardboard box or use newspaper on a flat surface.
Step 3: Make sure you're working in a well ventilated area before spraying frames. If so, spray an even coat of your favorite color of metallic spray paint and primer in one. I LOVE this spray paint because it applies evenly and never requires a second coat. Easy!
Step 3: Make sure you’re working in a well ventilated area before spraying frames. If so, spray an even coat of your favorite color of metallic spray paint and primer in one. I LOVE this spray paint because it applies evenly and never requires a second coat. Easy!
Step 4: Allow your frames to dry completely before handling. These frames required 8 hours of total drying time. Step 5: Display your frames with antique books and favorite sitabouts on the fireplace mantel or on a tray upon your living room table.
Step 4: Allow your frames to dry completely before handling. These frames required 8 hours of total drying time.
Step 5: Display your frames with antique books and favorite sitabouts on the fireplace mantel or on a tray upon your living room table.

I prefer Rust-oleum’s metallic and hammered options of their paint and primer in one. It can be used on wood, metal, plastic, and brick. The best part of using this brand of paint? You can spray it continuously at any angle without the nozzle gooping up. (These frames were sprayed with the hue Aged Copper, which can be found at any big box hardware store.)

The frames pictured above only cost $4 and couldn’t have been easier to redo. They will look dynamite next to a few fall pumpkins and burlap on the mantel this season.

What DIY projects are you most proud of? Share your upcycled home decor tricks in the comments section below. I’d love to borrow your fun idea for my next project.

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Filed Under: DIY, Lifestyle Tagged With: decoration, DIY, fall decor, glamorize, glamourize, picture frames, Rust-oleum, spray paint, upcycle

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Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

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