This week at Kirilewella I started on the mural drawing for the school wall.  The team had decided on a bug and garden theme since the children all love to draw butterflies and flowers. Putting the first mark on the wall was very daunting because it wasn’t until I really looked at the wall that I realised the sheer length of it and just how much of a large project the mural would be.  However, we are all always up for a challenge!
 
I drew the initial design in pencil the whole way across the wall which took the entire week to complete.  Chasing on my heels were several of the team going over the design in permanent marker to prevent any bugs being washed or rubbed away.  The thick black line already started to bring the garden to life and the children, teachers and parents were fascinated and loved to watch us all at work on the wall each day.
 
As we progressed with the design, we also improved our Sinhala vocabulary as the children and the teacher were keen for us to learn the names of butterflies, lizards, flowers, peacocks, snakes, flies  etc.  In return, we helped the children learn all the English words: ‘butterfly’ always being the favourite.
 
Undoubtedly the most well used word was ‘lassahnah’, meaning ‘beautiful’.  This made us all so happy to know that both the community at Kirelewela and our team are proud of the mural even in its early stages.
 
When I initially drew out the design, I could not have anticipated how much of a focal point in bringing the community together it would be.  This was particularly the case on Saturday when a group of us turned up with our paint pots and brushes at the ready, and there were a large group of adults and children already sitting in chairs ready to watch the first splash of colour be applied. 
 
I have to say this really was one of my favourite day’s of the project so far because it demonstrated how we can all work so closely and productively as a team, all tackling various sections of the design.  We worked all day and by the end we were told we looked as though we had more paint on ourselves than on the wall! It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and a really pleasing start to the vibrant bug scene.
 
Our aim now is to continue painting each day after school in groups and I think the final result is going to be something eagerly anticipated.