The Bringle Lake Mural in Texarkana, TX is a "Y" shaped walkway mural about 6.5' to 8' wide by about 265' in total length.
I worked with the Texarkana Texas Department of Parks and Recreation in designing a nature mural that reflects the natural surroundings of Bringle Lake and the joy this East Texas ecosystem brings to everyone who visits. As a teaching artist and former volunteer zoo educator, I love throwing some educational aspects into my designs, so I thought it would be really cool to show seasonal elements within the composition including the different flora and fauna and the activities that people enjoy in the park.
With the challenge of this "Y" shaped path, I decided to segue one season into another with the left branch of the Y being part of the summer section.
The mural begins with a nighttime winter scene on the right branch of the Y that moves into plants and animals of early spring. Hikers and foliage of late spring converges into summer water activities and wildlife in the center of the Y and includes: waterbirds, a kayaker, and an alligator. Above the alligator on the left branch of the Y are fish that appear to spill over the top from the spillway. Below the fish is a great blue heron, a fisherman in a boat, and turtles on a log leading back down to the alligator. From the kayaker towards the spillway bridge, the colors begin to change for fall foliage and includes a pileated woodpecker, pine trees, a rough green snake, fall ferns and a cyclist.
The merging of elements is helped along with the moving swirls of water and sky colors. Different land and path colors also move into one another to create changes and movement within the landscape.
Recognition goes to the Texarkana Texas Dept. of Parks and Recreation and Community Day Helpers for their hard work in helping to bring this design to life! And thank you to the folks who posted their Bringle Lake nature photos on AllTrails.com, which helped me learn what flowers were blooming at different times of the year.