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害羞草研究所檚 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).

害羞草研究所淚 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害羞草研究所� but it害羞草研究所檚 taken me 25 years to learn how to do it in that amount of time,害羞草研究所� Everill said.

害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淲e had to put it off about four times because of the weather,害羞草研究所� said Everill. 害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�

Everill said people害羞草研究所檚 reactions to her work is what inspires her.

害羞草研究所淭his one especially,害羞草研究所� she said of the Legion mural. 害羞草研究所淭his one actually brought people to tears - they were crying when they came and saw the mural, which made me cry. It害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭he words 害羞草研究所楲est We Forget害羞草研究所� says it all害羞草研究所� and this visual piece makes it a daily statement (as opposed to one surrounding Remembrance Day),害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淢any people have told me that they drove there just to see it, and they have a moment.害羞草研究所�

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

Everill害羞草研究所檚 next project is something at 19 Wing.

害羞草研究所淚 am working on a big one for the base, so we are working on the logistics of that害羞草研究所� but I always have 10 or 12 projects on my plate.害羞草研究所�

Everill害羞草研究所檚 work expands beyond Vancouver Island. She has murals in the Interior as well.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e also got some in Kelowna and Vernon, that are even bigger.害羞草研究所�

For more information on Everill害羞草研究所檚 business, visit

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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