More of the Bourdelle Mural

Another view of the Bourdelle "Harvest" mural. Photo is courtesy of the NYPL online digital collection. The mural was 40 feet in height and nearly 200 feet long. Such an amazing piece! In bold colors against the white must have been so striking with the sun shining on it, I think you would have stopped dead in your tracks when you saw it.

Pierre Bourdelle Mural

Mural by Pierre Bourdelle. This piece was actually sculpted in relief and painted for one of the Food Buildings at the New York World's Fair of 1939-1940. As I understand Bourdelle employed a number of assistants to complete this work.
Pierre painted/sculpted and designed many different murals in his bold style for many years. He also enjoyed experimenting in using more unusual sorts of materials in which to execute his work.
His father was a well known sculptor;Antoine Bourdelle, who was also an apprentice/assistant of Rodin at one time in his career.
Included here are two scans from Collier's magazine for January 28,1939, concerning Bourdelle and this particular mural.

Working as an Artist

This particular mural commission (Nursery Room Murals) was a nine month project. The room was approx: 36' X 15' and 9' 1/2 ft. ceilings. All walls received murals.
Creating something like a mural is a subject that I have compared to the basics of bringing a child into this world.
First there is the conception. the basic idea is conceived between the ideas of the client and the ideas and talent of the artist.
Second, there is a sort of gestation period. Research, and more sketching...dream-time...musing...all important aspects. As time progresses, sketches are finalized, and supplies are gathered. A space is readied to "raise" or create the mural.
Then the child/mural is born. You begin now to introduce it into this world physically, and try to "raise" it as best you can, with the knowledge and experience you have. Like a child, sometimes certain aspects don't turn out exactly as you had planned for, but an artist, like a parent, cannot always control every aspect of their creation..it sometimes seems to have ideas of it's own. Much like a parent you are also growing and learning at every stage along the way.
Finally the mural is finished and much like when a child is grown, you must release it out into the world...it's now off on it's own...and you hope in someway...something within it represents the best part of you that you have passed on to it. It will hopefully outlive you, and be part of your legacy.
This concept I feel is true for many artist endeavors.

Nursery Room Murals

Nursery Room Mural I recently completed for local church. North Wall looking towards East Wall.