Student Workshop Mural Project at the Lucky Penny, Santa Barbara

FEBRUARY, 2024

Thanks to a grant provided by the Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation, the Art Foundation provided materials and supplies for 20 “VADA” (Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts & Design Academy) students to participate with D.J. Javier, a successful commercial artist and entrepreneur, to assist him working on a commissioned mural at the “Lucky Penny” in Santa Barbara’s “Funk Zone”.   Mr. Javier, a graduate of Santa Barbara public schools and who donated his time, provided a two-hour workshop for 20 students and their program director at his studio, along with his business manager.  Over the next 2 ½ days, smaller groups of students in 3-4 hour increments, worked with Mr. Javier to complete the mural.   Maria McCall, Art Foundation trustee and treasurer and her husband, Dirk Brandts, a graphic designer and fine artist, attended. 

During the initial workshop, D.J. Javier covered the creative process and sequence with PDFs including grids ultimately laid out on 8' boards and showed attendees how to prep files, and draw grids, so the design would be in proportion and to fill-in with chalk.  In the same session, Mr. Javier’s business manager covered marketing, client approach, negotiations and putting an agreement together.   Later onsite, at the “Lucky Penny”, students worked with Mr. Javier to create the mural, starting first with color on a flat surface.   Note, many of the motifs have a version of a "lucky" penny, which can be seen in the photos.  The students gained experience and confidence through the workshop through this hands-on approach.  One student, who was drawing very slowly, said she was "afraid to make a mistake".  Mr. Javier assuring her that it could be easily re-drawn, enabled her to move forward quickly and with better clarity.    The students' parents, who drove and picked them up at the job site, also got to witness art in action and their work.

We would like to thank D.J. Javier, a successful Santa Barbara artist/ entrepreneur, with clients such as the L.A. Rams, Adidas and Vans, for donating his time and providing experiential learning to VADA students and to The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation for their combined support of this project.