Dream Bird Henna Flowers - Playroom Mural for the Mitra Family

Caroline Truong November 8, 2022

The Mitras are a family of 4 who are one of the most quirky, intelligent, creative, and humble clients I’ve had the pleasure to serve. The family already owns a collection of my Dream Bird paintings and prints, which then led to commissioning custom art for their home.

When they reached out to me for a Dream Bird Mural to brighten up the kid's playroom, I was both excited and nervous. Excited to make custom art for a client who already loves Dream Bird style. Nervous that it was the first mural I’d be doing in someone’s sacred space - their home.

This mural was completed Winter of 2021. When I had my 2nd child in May 2020, I stayed home, on lockdown, avoiding any and all germs and people, with my toddler and baby. It felt strange going back to work, interacting physically close with people, and being in someone else’s personal space.

Unexpected Feedback

It took me building several concepts to finally realize how to approach this project. My primary goal was to incorporate an element from their heritage, which ending up being flowers inspired by henna patterns from their wedding.

After the initial concept failed to spark joy in the client, Mama Mitra encouraged me to stick to my unique style which she felt was lacking. Fortunately, Mama Mitra is skilled in providing constructive feedback. Her expertise is in coaching, public speaking, and facilitation. This made having conversations about the final concept to be productive and empowering.

Sketch 1: I recall the client saying it looked like wallpaper, which is correct. Wallpaper was what I was going for. But why was I going for wallpaper? And where is Dream Bird?

It’s not what Mama Mitra loves about her current Dream Bird art collection. I started from scratch and made a new concept.

Having a client point out that my own style is missing from my art was an eye opening. This has been the problem all long. The Mitras were exceptionally patient while I took time to get over my insecurities as an artist to put forth my best work.

Sketch 2: Mama Mitra loves the chrysanthemum mural I did for Roostar Spring Branch, so in they went and we both love the direction it’s going.

Sketch 3 / Final Concept: I added 2 Dream Birds that represent their 2 kids and more henna inspired patterns.

Takeaways Beyond the Art

Artistic Practice: I became aware of my shortcomings as an artist that I need to overcome if I want to keep going. In order to develop a unique artistic style, I have to keep painting what I want, in my own way. Trust my artistic instincts when it comes to design and have fun sketching. If I’m not having fun, then it’s not me. In this mural, I developed a new kind of flower pattern, which I still use today.

Mama Mitra and I in front of the completed mural.

Business: I learned a crucial lesson in customer service of inundating the client with too many options. A background color had to be chosen and I presented too many options making it overwhelming.

Personal: Mama Mitra has became a friend. She’s been a voice of empowerment throughout the creative process which is not at all typical. As the artist, I need to be the one leading the process and now I understand how to do it.

Thank you Mitra family for letting me into your home!

Progress Shots

The blank wall with a sample of background colors painted on for the client to choose.

After sketching the design, I painted the background first.

I worked on the most challenging part first, which is the bottom henna inspired pattern that required radial symmetry.

Completed Mural

Dream Bird Henna Flowers, 2021. 9ft tall x 14 ft wide.

Breathe, Smile, Love - Murals for Maxwello Dental

Caroline Truong September 30, 2022

Dr. Letitia Plummer and I in front of the blank walls during the first site visit.

I had the pleasure of painting a set of murals for Dr. Letitia Plummer at her dental practice in Pearland, Texas. Dr. Plummer has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years and is a Houston City Council Member. You can hear her speak on local topics during episodes of the Houston Public Media Houston Matters Podcasts.

With that being said, the project was a breeze because of a few things…

Similar Attitudes & Artistic Styles

On Maxwello Dental’s website, there is a video of Dr. Plummer speaking on why she became a dentist and how she runs her practice. Dr. Plummer says when you come to her practice, “you’re not just a number… you’re a name with a face with a family”. She also speaks on running her practice like she runs her life. For example, working hours for staff is conducive to having time after work to spend with families. They schedule patients within hours that won’t keep the staff late or in time to pick up kids from school.

As a client, Dr. Plummer was adaptable to my schedule. I’m upfront about being unable to meet quick and concrete deadlines because I choose to set my work hours around my kids’ school hours. My toddler also gets sick frequently from all the viruses circulating daycare.

The pillow we used for the color palette inspiration

Dr. Plummer’s taste for art and color matched up with my style so the sketching process was swift. Her vision was to have only text on the walls of the words “breathe, smile, and love”. She also wanted the text to be illustrated in a way that represents the action.

The preferred color palette was actually the colors already on my paint rotation. She wanted the colors on a throw pillow in the office waiting room, along with a primary color pallet.

Sketch/Design

Black and white sketches

Color sketches with grid. Ready for the wall.

I used a grid to transfer the art onto the walls, along with a homemade paper stencil. It wasn’t feasible to use a projector in the hallway because there wasn’t enough distance for placement. To create the paper stencil, I used a projector at home to roughly trace the image onto kraft paper. I cut out parts of the stencil I needed to mark the placement of the text.

I could’ve sketched the design on the wall using only the grid and without the stencil. But my time is limited when I’m working on site, away from home. For this project, I felt better about being over prepared for transferring the design on the wall, rather than under prepared.

I placed the paper stencil on the mural wall and used white paint to fill in the stencil.

The white markings give me reference points for painting the text and florals, along with a grid I chalked on the wall.

I sketch in the the design using white paint and/or chalk. I use chalk because it wipes away with water without touch up needed. I use white paint because it’s easy to paint over.

Blank Walls

Hallway with blanks walls for the mural at Maxwello Dental. Pearland, TX.

Finished Mural Walls

Breathe by Caroline Truong. Mural for Maxwello Dental Office.

Smile by Caroline Truong. Mural for Maxwello Dental Office.

Love by Caroline Truong. Mural for Maxwello Dental Office.

The experience of designing and painting custom murals for Maxwello Dental was enjoyable. I was able to bring Dr. Plummer’s vision to life by adding a touch of her personality to the dental practice - and in my own style! Stay tuned for more. Dr. Plummer also commissioned me to paint a 4ft x 8ft large canvas for her home, and I can’t wait to get started!

What do you think of having murals like these in a dental office?

Leave a comment or send me a note. I’d like to hear your thoughts or any ideas for future projects!

Live painting at BAM Market - Go big or go home!

Caroline Truong August 15, 2022

It’s been years since I’ve set up shop at an art market. But when my favorite local market goes indoors during the hot Texas summer, I’m there! The BAM Market was held on Saturday, August 13th at Silver Street Studios Event Space.

First Saturdays Art Market in the Houston Heights is where I started showing and selling my art in 2012 - a whole ten years ago! Mitch Cohen is the boss man behind the market. He writes a local art column called Art Valet and has been a Houston Heights for decades. Mitch is a former sign painter (back when massive billboards were hand painted) and he’s the heart of the local Houston art community.

Mitch allowed me to set up a large canvas and paint live for the crowd. This is one of my first live painting events.

Did I finish within the 12-8pm market hours? Nope! I was ambitious in thinking I could do such detailed work on a large canvas in 8 hours while talking to folks. I probably spent about 4 hours actually painting.

I picked up a 4ft x 7ft canvas from Jerry’s Artarama Houston. I sketched out a design of 2 chrysanthemums, 3 arches, Dream bird, and floral accents. The easel also happens to be from Jerry’s which I bought years ago and never made use of it til the BAM market.

I brought my favorite brushes from Michael’s and paints from Pebeo, Nova, and Golden.