Yes, I'm done with the proposal.

My mural proposal is finally finished. While I am feeling some amount of catharsis because of of its completion, I have also become full of doubt. I've been working to closely with this thing for any real objectivity. For days I've been staring at my conception in one form or another. I created several rough drafts, both in pencil and in color. There's been some evolution, but the image has remained remarkably true to my original conception. I guess it's inevitable now that I question whether it's what I wanted to see. I'm not used to working so methodically. I usually begin a piece in a burst of inspiration, and follow through to the end. In this case I worked in successive stages, with hours-long breaks in between. It's been a good exercise in discipline.

The choice of crayons was riskier than I thought. There's certainly a rather widespread attitude that they are merely practice implements for children. A lot of people will automatically discount the serious intent of a work in crayon. It's mostly a perception based in childhood memory. Indeed there are working artists who have done amazing things with regular old Crayola. In a Google search I found Don Marco, who fashions himself "The Master Crayon Artist". Check out his site. While I find his subject matter to be a bit prosaic, his technique is absolutely amazing. Even the Saatchi Gallery has a crayon artist in its ranks. This guy has it down. While I am nowhere near as skilled as these guys, I have done a few things with crayons. I've evn sold a piece to a serious collector. But it has been a long time since I tried using them, and it took some time for me to rediscover the possibilities.

I also thought that the choice of crayons was appropriate for a mural proposal. It suggests an accessibility that other medioums lack. The proposals are going to be juried by a number of commuty figures including gallery owners and curators... but also professionals and city council members. Will the be put off, and find the work amatuerish because of the crayons? Who knows?

I talked to the project manager and got some additional information about the scope of the murals. They are to be painted on a stretch of busway that ranges from downtown Pittsburgh all the way to Swissvale. The proposals are going to be judged individually by members of each neighborhood receiving a mural. The murals themselves are guaranteed to be maintained for 25 years. And there will be 25 artists chosen for participation. Had I known all of this when I agreed to submit, I might have been intimidated. But I assumed the task with few preconceptions, other than the theme and the deadline.

What I am most anxiously anticipating is the reception of my concept. It will be interesting to see whether people are willing to accept my vision, or whether they will be confused and/or resistant. Perhaps they will simply judge me insane. I plan to expand my statement, and have been told that I will get to represent myself and my work in front of the jury panel. That could be the most fun part of the entire endeavor. I think I came up with aperspective that, while incorporating traditional elements, has a radically fresh take on the future of the city. There are a lot of subtle referents that will probably cause folks to ponder my intentions. I described the work yesterday as "post-apocalyptic without the darkness". I think the mystery is an essential element of any possible appreciation.