Residents at the Swan Valley Personal Care Home (SVPCH) have another beautiful view to enjoy thanks to the talents of local artist Melanie Bird and the financial donation from the Swan Valley Credit Union. This is the second mural that Bird has painted at the care home, with the first one being a scenic farm setting.
“Last summer, I painted a wall for the residents on the north end of the building and so the PCH approached me about doing another mural for the residents on the south end of the building to enjoy,” said Melanie Bird.
“The PCH wanted paintings that reflected the beautiful Valley in which we live. Since many wonderful lakes surround our valley, they decided to choose a lake/wildlife scene for this painting. The painting isn’t necessarily Wellman Lake specifically. It was intended to represent the lakes that surround our Valley in general.
“However, since we have a family cabin at Wellman Lake, the scenes are definitely inspired by that lake,” said Bird. “I tried to incorporate a variety of wildlife that we would typically see at any one of our lakes in the area, including deer with fawn, a mallard duck pair with some ducklings, geese, moose, rabbit and a loon.
“I’m hoping that each resident, no matter which lake they most often visited, will feel a connection to the painting.”
Bird was able to complete the mural from start to finish in just under two weeks, as there were many components to finalizing the mural and ensuring its longevity.
“I started the painting on July 3 and finished it on July 14,” said Bird. “I’m the type of artist who likes to stay focused on the painting until it is complete, so it was a relatively quick project. The actual painting took about four full days of painting and then it needed to cure for a few days before I put a couple of layers of protective coating on, so that it will be enjoyed for years to come.”
The response from the residents and visitors has been complimentary, as many enjoy the new view on the walls. Most viewers respond to the wildlife portrayed in the mural. Bird has enjoyed working on both murals for the care home and is open to doing more in the future.
“Everyone who walked by was always so happy to see the painting come to life,” said Bird. “Some residents really enjoyed commenting on the animals in particular, giving ideas of other animals for me to paint as well. I think they will really enjoy looking at this painting every time they walk by. Having the opportunity just to work at the PCH for those days was richly rewarding for me. I truly loved the interactions I had with both staff and residents.
“I would be more than happy to paint more murals at the PCH if they decide they would like it, but for now, no other plans are in place.”