By the CACB Mural Committee
At the Creative Arts Center of Bonham (CACB), we believe art shouldn’t be confined to gallery walls. Sometimes, it needs to burst outside and greet everyone who passes by! That’s exactly what’s happening with our vibrant new mural project brightening up the back wall of our center.
This mural does more than just beautify our building — it tells our community who we are and what we stand for. It’s a visual invitation that announces “Creativity happens here!” In our small town of Bonham, this splash of color and imagination adds to our sense of place and reminds us that art belongs to everyone.
New Ideas and a New Design
The idea for the mural was sparked by artist Jessie Bryant of 3 Little Birds Paintings. At her first CACB board meeting, she tentatively raised her hand to share the idea of adding a mural to the building. “There aren’t any murals in Bonham. We should start one,” she suggested. The Board, always open to fresh ideas, immediately said yes.
A committee was formed to draft and consider designs, ultimately selecting Caroline Blackwell’s vibrant concept featuring the CACB logo surrounded by a joyful explosion of artistic elements. Elements include musical notes, paintbrushes, flowers, and even a cheerful cat! A stunning sunflower and sun motif anchors the right side, while various blooms and creative symbols dance across the entire space.
“The mural is a collaborative project of ideas and fun activities that we wanted to bring to life,” says Caroline. “I wanted to capture the diverse forms of creativity that happen at the Center. Each element represents different art forms we celebrate here — from visual arts to music to theater. And what better place to paint this first mural than the wall where we celebrate Music in the Garden.”
From Prep to Paint
To prepare for the mural, the team power washed and primed the back wall. Then there was the issue of how to transfer the design onto the wall. This prompted Director Sandy Barber to invest in a new projector (your donations make these purchases possible!). The mural team met back at the center in the early evening when it was just dark enough to project and trace the image. At 15 feet wide and 10 feet tall, that meant a lot of tracing, so they broke up the work into thirds.
As eager as the team was to jump into the fun details, they next filled in the large blocks of base color. “Just like painting a canvas, you start with the background colors,” explained Caroline. As seen in our photos, the process involved careful outlining of the design elements before adding the vibrant details.
Throughout the week, various artists have volunteered time to paint in sections. Looking at the images, you can see the careful work being done on the comedy and tragedy masks, representing our thriving theater program and Drama Kids Inc classes.
A Creative Spirit Inside and Out
There’s something special about creating art outdoors where the process itself becomes a public performance. Public art serves as both a landmark and a point of pride. It transforms everyday spaces into something extraordinary and reinforces that creativity isn’t just for big cities — it’s thriving right here at home.
The mural project coincides perfectly with our “Naturally” exhibit that opened on March 7 and our upcoming Open Mic Night on March 21.
“The CACB isn’t just a building — it’s a creative spirit that spills outside our walls and into the heart of Bonham,” adds Sandy. “This mural is just the beginning of bringing more public art to our community.”
Follow our progress on social media and stop by to see how the mural evolves!
Follow us on Facebook at Creative Arts Center and on Instagram @CreativeArtsCenterBonham
Jessie Bryant shares her art insights on her blog, Shine On. She also serves on the Board of the CACB and teaches several painting classes at the center.
Caroline Blackwell is an accomplished artist and also serves on the Board of the CACB. She also teaches painting classes for art camp and for students with special needs.
