BRHS Art Students Inspire Creativity with Disney’s “Cars” Chalk Mural

Earlier this month, the art students here at the River transformed the school courtyard into a vibrant mural of the Disney movie "Cars." The well-known characters Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the rest of the crew were brought to life with the students’ bursts of color and imagination – and all of this was accomplished in just 2 school days!

BRHS art students diligently working on the "Cars" mural.

Photo from: https://www.brhsart.com/chalk-murals.html

This has not been the first time that the art program at Braden River has embarked on such a feat. Just last school year, the art students had created a mural depicting Monsters Inc – another classic Disney movie. Just the year before, it was a mural of Finding Dory. Surely, this is a yearly tradition that must continue for years to come!

Once again, Commercial Art 1-4 students collaborated this year to finish the impressive project. With a shared vision, it was inspiring to see students across all the art classes working together to reach such a fantastic final product! Seeing these beloved characters again gave everyone at Braden River High School a sense of nostalgia and happiness.

With the guidance of art teachers Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Fabianski, the art students worked on the “Cars” mural to not only show their artistic talents but also to spread inspiration throughout the school. It took careful preparation and effort to ensure the colors and sketches were accurate to the actual movie characters, but it was all worth it in the end!

Mr. Fabianski clarified that the reason “Cars” was chosen was because it is relatable to the students. “We wanted to pick a movie that is fun to the students here. We try to do movies that the students like so that they are more engaged when they’re working on the chalk mural. And who doesn’t love “Cars”?”

Throughout the two days, as the students sketched and chalked, teachers, students, and staff alike eagerly stopped by to admire their progress and help the artists. The process was not an easy one!

Mr. Ferrell explained, “First, we put a grid over the reference image in Photoshop. Then, we taught our students how to grid so that they would be prepared for the actual chalk mural. Then, we took some white chalk to carefully sketch out the characters. After that, we built up the layers with the bright, colorful chalk. Lastly, we touched up the mural by highlighting the brightest brights of the image and the darkest darks.”

The excitement that the art mural brought to the students here at Braden River High School made some of them wonder what project the art program plans to tackle next. Could it be “Zootopia,” with the beloved Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde? Or perhaps it will be a mural of “The Incredibles,” showcasing everyone’s favorite family of superheroes.

When asked what next movie will be chosen for next year’s mural, Mr. Fabianski replied, “Nice try – but it’s a secret every year!” It appears that everyone will have to wait and see which theme is selected next!

Although the chalk mural did wash away as a result of the rain that weekend, the chalk mural serves as a reminder of the power of imagination and creativity that persists even after it has washed away. Art classes give students a chance to express their beliefs and build their confidence, and these skills are invaluable. The art students here at Braden River High School have once again proven their passion and drive for art!

To see a time-lapse of BRHS’ “Cars” mural click here.

To follow BRHS Art on social media click here. (@artbrhs on Instagram)