The Lighthouse Roasters Mural

Mural

The Lighthouse Roasters Mural

In June of 2020 I completed and installed a mural for Lighthouse Roasters in Seattle located at 400 N 43rd St, in Seattle.

During the Covid19 pandemic the business requested artistic signage to adorn their facade while they partially re-open to the public. 

light house sketch sketchbook drawing 8.5x5.5
light house sketch sketchbook drawing 8.5×5.5

The process started with sketchbook drawings. The final design was later scaled-up to the full size panels using roll paper. Once fully drafted, I traced the image backwards and pressure-transferred the drawings onto the final surface in my studio.

Lighthouse drawing graphite on paper  30 x 156 inches
Lighthouse drawing graphite on paper 30 x 156 inches

Utilizing traditional painting methods I rendered the image freehand in sections but took care to color match each panel to the next.

Mural in progress Studio view acrylic on panel 30 x 156 inches
Mural in progress – studio view, acrylic on panel, 30 x 156 inches

The first panel installed included signage as the business was open with limited hours. The verbiage requested asked customers to Social Distance, to wear a mask and preferred that they perform card transactions. I made light of bank card aesthetics with type and effects using silver paint and the company logo as the chip hologram. 

I delivered the centerpiece and final small panel a week later. The imagery relates to the company name “Lighthouse” and their core business of delivering coffee shots and bags of whole beans or grounds

The Lighthouse Mural, acrylic on panel, 30 x 156 inches,  2020
The Lighthouse Mural, acrylic on panel, 30 x 156 inches, 2020

Humans of all colors casually soak in individual cups of coffee and are tied with payer flags to an uprooted lighthouse floating in the sky. In the distance are mountains of lighthouse labeled bags jutting out of an island of coffee beans.

Coffee Bean Island (detail), acrylic on panel, 30 x 24 inches.  2020
Coffee Bean Island (detail), acrylic on panel, 30 x 24 inches. 2020

The total width of the mural is just under 13 feet and fills nearly half the hight of the storefront windows. The colors used were intentionally selected to match those of the building. The sectional panels are designed so if the signage needs to be changed in the future, that it can be done so with relative ease. 

Lighthouse Mural (installation view)
Lighthouse Mural (installation view)

The mural is visible from across the street or from passing vehicles on the corner of North 43rd and Phinney Ave. North in Seattle’s upper Fremont neighborhood.

JeffMihalyo
Artist working in traditional and new media.