You won’t find Rio’s beaches here. Wait, that’s a lie. I actually painted one. A small strip of Copacabana sand now lives inside a small Irish café. The new mural sits at Bom Dia! in Mullingar. But I didn’t guess what to put on it,I asked first.
I spoke directly to Brazilian locals. “What truly represents your state?” I wanted more than clichés. They gave me real answers. And then I got to work.
First, I added the famous Cristo Redentor. You can’t miss his open arms. Second, I painted the Igreja da Pampulha. Its curves feel like a dance. Besides these icons, I dug deeper. What’s more, I included the MASP museum. That concrete giant hangs art in mid air.
Again, nature played a huge role. I drew araucárias. Those pine trees tower over southern Brazil. Furthermore, I added a juicy guaraná fruit. An onça pintada stalks nearby. Its spotted coat hides in the jungle. Equally important, a capybara chills by the water. That giant rodent never rushes.
Finally, I captured Brazil’s rhythm. The Arcos da Lapa stretches across the mural. Crabs scuttle near a sandy shore. A bright boi bumba dances like thunder. Too many stories fit on one wall? Maybe.
But here is my favorite part. I added a little Easter egg. The Guinness toucan makes a cameo. Only he holds a copo americano instead of a pint. Picture that. He has clearly traveled to Brazil. That glass fits perfectly in his beak. An Irish touch hiding in plain sight.
So next time you grab a coffee in Mullingar, look up. You will see my brushstrokes. You will spot the familiar and the strange. A Brazilian beach. An Irish bird with a Brazilian drink. That is my “aquarela do Brasil.” A watercolor where two homes shake hands.
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Happy inking! 🎀