The Mural

Inspiration

The accident on Thanksgiving night 2025 came as a shock to everyone. Yet within forty-eight hours, Teri Hope, owner of the Los Gatos Roasting Company, called to say they intended to rebuild. The café would return—stronger than ever—and they hoped a mural could share that message with the community. This was wonderful news. I have been teaching evening drawing classes at the Roasting Company for many years, and consider it a second home. 

I visited the site and studied the temporary wall from a distance and up close, considering how a mural might live within a neighborhood already rich with color and visual energy. The work needed to feel present but not overpowering—something that would quietly signal resilience and optimism.  There were also practical considerations. The mural needed to be conceived and completed quickly, and the materials had to suit an outdoor environment. For that reason, the painting would be executed in acrylic rather than oil. 

As a classically trained portrait artist, most of my work takes place in the controlled setting of a studio. This project required applying those portrait skills in a very different context: on a large public surface, outdoors, and within the rhythms of a busy street.  My first proposal included several realistic images reflecting the life of the coffee shop. But another idea kept returning to me: rebuilding through the language of classical art. 

Years ago I lived and trained in Florence, where I spent many hours studying Botticelli’s La Primavera in the Uffizi. The Three Graces from that painting seemed to embody the spirit we hoped to convey—community, harmony, and joy. They also carry a deeper symbolism of renewal, a reminder that life and beauty return. 

I created a simple composition incorporating the Three Graces.  Teri and Dylan responded immediately to the concept and felt that a few simple words would best accompany the image. We chose the phrase “Stronger Together.” An elegant typeface completed the design, echoing the classical character of the figures and the confidence that the café would return stronger than before. 

The project was demanding, but deeply rewarding. I hope that everyone who sees the mural feels the same—and is reminded how important they, and the community, are to the life of the café. We really are stronger together.