Painting historical murals was a HUGE part of my life for more than a decade. We travelled across Canada and the United States many times painting over a hundred of the larger than life historical works. I enjoyed it immensely. Back then our kids were young and each summer we pulled up stakes, loaded the travel trailer full of provisions and hit the road. We painted as far north as Peace River Alberta - as far south as Florida and all the way west to California. In the winters we did work in the south, enjoying the warmer temperatures, in the summers we painted across Canada. Our kids experienced geography in real life, and history lessons were learned by painting it on the walls. Those were good times.

I still do the occasional mural these days, one or two each year. Late last week I was asked to do another in Illinois, my seventh historical mural in that state. This mural will be the fourth one I have had a hand in designing and then painting along with a group of folks known as Letterheads or WallDogs. These are sign folks who travel (at their own expense) to a meet in some town where a number of murals will be painted over one long weekend. The lucky town this year is Danville, Illinois. About a hundred or more sign folks will descend on the town, taking over the streets (and the walls). When the dust settles 15 historical murals will be the legacy they leave behind.

The organizers contacted me via email and sent a bunch of old photos on which to base the mural. I worked through the weekend to come up with a design. It features one of my favorite subjects - the old interurban or streetcar of old. The drawing was fun, still to be colored. More fun is to come as I gather again with many of my sign painting friends to make it as large as life on the wall in Danville.

I can hardly wait until August!

-grampa dan