Courtenay artist Kelly Everill is well known for her community murals.

They can be found on the sides of buildings, on fences, inside schools, grocery stores and other structures throughout Vancouver Island乌鸦传媒檚 Comox Valley.

Her latest creation is, in a word, stunning.

Everill has recently completed a two-storey, 40-foot-wide tribute to veterans, on the outer wall of the Courtenay Legion (Branch 17).

乌鸦传媒淚 worked many hours every day for about five days to get the background done, and then I added the lettering on the (last day), so it took me about six days in total乌鸦传媒� but it乌鸦传媒檚 taken me 25 years to learn how to do it in that amount of time,乌鸦传媒� Everill said.

乌鸦传媒淭he Legion approached me about the job and I came up with a sketch and we carried on from there. They did some fundraising through their members, and I gave them a good deal, because it is the Legion. My dad was a member until he passed away a couple of years ago, so it was an important (project) for me, too.乌鸦传媒�

While the actual creation only took a week, Mother Nature played a big role in its delay.

乌鸦传媒淲e had to put it off about four times because of the weather,乌鸦传媒� said Everill. 乌鸦传媒淲e had this planned last fall, but we ran out of time then, so we have just been waiting for a good stretch of weather and it finally happened.乌鸦传媒�

Everill said people乌鸦传媒檚 reactions to her work is what inspires her.

乌鸦传媒淭his one especially,乌鸦传媒� she said of the Legion mural. 乌鸦传媒淭his one actually brought people to tears - they were crying when they came and saw the mural, which made me cry. It乌鸦传媒檚 very moving. Also people have said it has opened up a conversation with their younger kids - a very important conversation that may not have happened.乌鸦传媒�

Everill said the message she is trying to convey is written on the mural.

乌鸦传媒淭he words 乌鸦传媒楲est We Forget乌鸦传媒� says it all乌鸦传媒� and this visual piece makes it a daily statement (as opposed to one surrounding Remembrance Day),乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淢any people have told me that they drove there just to see it, and they have a moment.乌鸦传媒�

The public is invited to attend an official unveiling ceremony on July 30 at 11 a.m.

Everill乌鸦传媒檚 next project is something at 19 Wing.

乌鸦传媒淚 am working on a big one for the base, so we are working on the logistics of that乌鸦传媒� but I always have 10 or 12 projects on my plate.乌鸦传媒�

Everill乌鸦传媒檚 work expands beyond Vancouver Island. She has murals in the Interior as well.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e also got some in Kelowna and Vernon, that are even bigger.乌鸦传媒�

For more information on Everill乌鸦传媒檚 business, visit

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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