This mural project for Pāpāmoa Plaza is a special one for me. The plaza is only five minutes down the road from home and somewhere my family and I visit multiple times a week for a supermarket dash, or one of those "we only need one thing" trips that somehow turns into five, it's a place that's part of our everyday life.
So being commissioned as a local artist for this project felt like the perfect fit.
The design concept and inspiration.
The concept takes an abstract approach to coastal living, inspired by the colours, movement and energy of Pāpāmoa. Rather than leaning into obvious beach icons or imagery, I looked to the little details that make coastal life feel so familiar: stripey beach towels, colourful umbrellas, board shorts, sunshine, and long summer afternoons.
Using the Pāpāmoa Plaza brand colours as a starting point, I developed a series of bold graphic forms that reference the brand's playful grids and stripe patterns while putting my own spin on it. The result is absolutely colourful and feels really energetic and welcoming.
The installation process.
The Pāpāmoa Plaza team had just signed off my design and the first thing I did was check the weather, I couldn't quite believe my luck when the weather forecast showed a full week of sunshine in June.
The mornings were absolutely crispy fresh and I had to wait until it crept towards 10 degrees before I could even think about picking up a paintbrush, but compared to a week of rain? I'll take it.
Before any painting could begin though, there was the oh-so-glamorous but very important part of murals...
Some serious clean and prep on day one. These power boxes sit beneath a large tree and had built up a fair amount of grime over time. Out came the roof cleaner, the scrubbing brushes, and most importantly, the orbital sander. I do love a good excuse to use a power tool.
After a thorough scrub and sand, I primed the transformer boxes and they were ready for painting the following day.
The perks of painting in public.
One of the unexpected perks of painting in public is all the people you meet along the way. I had a steady stream of visitors stopping by for a chat. Lots of people thanked me for adding some colour and art to the area and told me how much more inviting the space felt. I even received a surprise delivery of a block of chocolate from a lovely local (thank you Bianca!). Honestly, those conversations and connections are such a highlight!
This project has been such a joy to work on and I'm excited that it doesn't stop here. I've also been commissioned to paint two additional power boxes within the plaza, continuing this colourful visual story throughout the site.
Got a wall?
If you’re looking to transform a space with a mural, feel free to get in touch, I’d love to paint for you.
Commissioned by: Pāpāmoa Plaza
Brushes: Monarch Painting
Paint: Resene
