“TEEMING WITH LIFE”
PROJECT
Teeming with Life is a site-specific exterior mural created for the interior pool courtyard of Casa Linda Apartments in La Jolla.
The 34-foot mural transforms a long stucco wall into a coastal scene that moves from a bright beach environment above the water into an underwater world filled with marine life.
DESIGN & MATERIALS
The mural was created on an existing painted cinder-block wall. The surface was power washed, primed and given a base coat before the sculptural elements were installed.
Foam boards were securely attached to the wall to build the relief forms. I intentionally used exterior-grade stucco over the sculpted areas to create the texture and appearance of sand, while smooth stucco was applied to the painted areas to create a custom textured surface for the underwater scene.
All materials were selected specifically for exterior construction and long-term outdoor use, including the paints, sculptural materials and finishing products. The entire mural, from top to bottom, was finished with a high-quality exterior sealant for additional protection from the elements.
The combination of painted and sculptural surfaces gives the mural its dimensional quality, while natural light and the relief forms create changing reflections and shadows throughout the day.
Nothing here is completely still
Teeming with Life changes with the environment around it. As the sun moves across the courtyard, shimmering surfaces catch the light and sculptural relief creates shifting shadows. The mural looks different throughout the day—moving from the bright, seemingly still world above the water into a quieter world that is, in fact, teeming with life.
Residential · Casa Linda Apartments · La Jolla, CA
34' × 9' · 3D sculptural relief exterior mural
