The Fabled Forest Characters

The Fabled Forest is filled with flora and fauna native to the Hudson Valley in New York State.  Every detail was researched and painted accurately.  At the same time, I gave the animal characters a hint of personality according to the fables in which they appear.  In this time-lapse video I focus on a few trees and creatures to show you how much effort was devoted to each.  Everything in the mural is important to me so that when both children and adults see it they can find something of interest.

If you've been enjoying the videos and the mural, you can visit it at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown NY.  

A Fabled Forest Fable

The Owl and the Grasshopper is one of the better known Aesop's Fables. The Fabled Forest Mural is inhabited by characters from a variety of fables whom you will meet as you wander.

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Fabled Forest Mural Part II

The setting for the variety of plants and animals needs to be accurate and detailed so I spend many days getting it all just right.  Dappled light on the forest floor and shadows on rocks and trees add to the feeling of being in the setting.  This video shows the process and attention to the smallest areas.

Fabled Forest Inhabitants

Over the past few weeks I've been welcoming all kinds of creatures into the forest. Here are just a few of them. The fable of the Tortoise and The Hare is told by Hudson Valley native species, the Cottontail Rabbit and the Painted Turtle. The raccoon is simply an onlooker. You might even notice the Jack-in-the- Pulpit and Lady's Slippers nearby.

The process of creating a mural involves much work that you don't normally get to see.  Many times the steps seem interesting to only the artist.  Researching, sketching, gathering supplies, etc. For  The Fabled Forest mural, I'm using a poly-cotton canvas to prevent the surface from expanding or contracting.  The people at Tara Art Materials were helpful in making sure the correct support was selected.  The paints and sealer are all non-toxic as well. These necessary stages leading up to actually painting the mural are important to me as the artist, to ensure my clients receive a work that will last and that will be enjoyed for decades to come.
Here's a video of the beginning stages of the mural.

Lend A Hand For Kids
The New Pediatric Center at ORMC will serve the local community as well as the entire Hudson Valley and surrounding area.  The Lend a Hand for Kids campaign offers you a chance to support this project and the advanced services it will provide.  Visit their website and find out how you can help.

The Mural Project Begins

The Pediatric Center at Orange Regional Medical Center is improving and expanding to become a leader in pediatric care in the Hudson Valley including redesign of its facilities.  

Sarah Johnson, Art Curator for Orange Regional Medical Center is making an effort to keep ORMC in the forefront of what a hospital is supposed to be, a place where healing occurs.  To this end she is incorporating "visual healing" into the hospital environment.  Art is used to engage mental activity and promote a positive perception of place.

 Sarah contacted artist/illustrator Steven James Petruccio about creating some art for the new entrance.  After an initial conversation and meeting, during which many ideas were discussed, the decision was made to proceed with a showpiece work of art for the Pediatric Center.  A mural would be painted by the artist to create a calm and peaceful "first impression" of the hospital for children and their families.

     "Decoration and design in pediatric units should relate to patients' developmental states, cognitive skills and perception of reality rather than relying on cuteness and whimsy."

               -Journal: Hospitas Vol.54, Issue 8 - Center for Health Design

It was determined, after some research, that a  nature themed mural would bring the outdoors in and set a peaceful tone for the entrance.  Steven set to work making sketches of woodland scenes.  He is widely known for his natural science illustrations which have appeared in many books including ten books in the Smithsonian Oceanic Collection.  These books require many weeks of research and the same attention was given to the mural.  Flora and fauna native to the Hudson Valley were compiled as the artist developed his preliminary sketches.  While working on the visual for the expansive thirty foot mural, Steven began placing animals in their natural surroundings and noticed that many of them were also used in many of Aesop's fables.  After consulting with Sarah, the illustrator side of the artist took over and vignettes were drawn to relate many familiar tales. The initial sketch shows the first image created  for the ORMC mural.