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Posted May 13, 2024
Note: This article was adapted from one that appeared in the March issue of Hi-Lights, the Plymouth High School student newspaper.
By Brooklyn Bersch
of the Hi-Lights staff
Plymouth High School senior Edi Mella, who enjoys painting as a hobby, usually sticks to small-scale landscapes. But PHS art teacher Ryan Krippendorf gave him a challenge: paint landscapes on the bathroom walls.
The school decided to paint the boys’ bathroom near the health room after a nearby girls' bathroom was painted last year. The girl's bathroom, painted by graduate Arreana Klein, is filled with bright colors, flower designs, butterflies, inspirational quotes, and multiple portraits of Frida Kahlo.
They wanted the boys’ bathroom to look different, and brainstormed themes. “Mr. Krippendorf wanted that bathroom to be conservation-based, so the idea we had was many different biomes from around the country, which I can paint well,” Edi said.
The acrylic paintings include scenes such as western mountain ranges that could represent the Rockies. An ocean scene was inspired by the estuaries in the Carolinas. The desert scenes represent somewhere in Arizona or Nevada. A northern coastal scene is from somewhere in Alaska. Lastly, a northern lake was based somewhere in Wisconsin or Minnesota.
The PHS Art Department provided the materials for the murals, which take a lot of paint.
Edi started his art hobby by watching Bob Ross shows in middle school. From there his artistic ability only got more skillful. “All I did to get better was paint a lot,” he said.
Even though Edi sticks with landscapes, that doesn't stop him from experimenting with different mediums. “I would do murals again,” he said. “They are fun to do and they usually turn out well.”
Serena Annis-Jimenez, Brooklyn Bersch, Jesse Klippel, Gabe Meredith, and Hallie Zellner contributed to this feature.
Learn more:
• Read a Hi-Lights article about the Career & Technical Education Open House.
• Read a Hi-Lights article about the PHS auto shop.
• Read a Hi-Lights article about Wood Processes projects.
• Read a Hi-Lights article about Momentum show choir.
