Happy Little Painter Co.

Haller Park Bridge Pillar Mural

I designed and proposed this mural back in 2023, shortly after returning from a mural trip to the Dominican Republic. I had the opportunity to paint several stained-glass-style murals with a group of artists at the Symmetry Oasis Wellness Center, which is owned by an amazing local family. I completely fell in love with the stained glass effect—the bold lines, the colors, the way it came to life in the sun.

When I got back home, I knew I wanted to bring something like that here—to create a piece that felt meaningful and very Pacific Northwest. I proposed this design for one of the bridge pillars down by the river at Haller Park. It just made sense—this spot is already full of natural beauty, and the pillar felt like a perfect canvas.

Style & Elements

The mural wraps around the concrete base in that same stained-glass style. It starts at the top with a warm, glowing sunset—because if you stand in the right place, you’ll actually see the sun setting just off to the side of the bridge. From there, the colors blend down into a cozy PNW river scene with evergreens, a winding stream, and some of our favorite local wildlife. In and around the river, local wildlife comes to life in bold, geometric forms: a jumping salmon, a curious river otter resting on a rock, and a watchful deer among the tall grasses—all iconic species of the region, captured in a playful yet reverent style.

The entire piece is unified by thick, dark outlines and stylized color blocking that give it the timeless look of stained glass—inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and feel a little more connected to the natural beauty around them.

Process

When I first visited the pillar in late May, it looked great—clean, solid, and totally ready to be painted. But a few weeks later, it was unfortunately covered in graffiti, which definitely wasn’t part of the plan. And by the time a month had passed, parts of the paint were starting to peel off, or purposely peeled. I can see the temptation but it certainly didn't help.

So, we shifted gears. We pressure washed the whole thing to blast off the grime and dirt, then came back with scrapers to remove any paint that was already loose or peeling. After that, we sanded down the edges to smooth everything out and applied multiple layers of Zinsser Peel Stop to seal it all in and stabilize what was left. Once that dried, we followed up with a white, then grey primer, which I chose because it’ll really help the colors pop once I start painting.

It’s been a bit of a process, but I’m so excited (and a little anxious!) to finally start getting color on there.

Getting There

I’ll also be working on the top, larger portion of the pillar—which is definitely a bit trickier. The terrain under the bridge is a little wild, so I’ll need a lift to safely reach that section. Right now, I’m working on figuring out a week where I can paint every day so I can get it all done while keeping the rental costs down.

Since the mural is right along a well-loved pedestrian trail, especially busy during the summer, I also want to make sure the area is safe and clear while I’m working up high. It’ll take a little planning and coordination, but I’m hoping to knock that part out soon so the whole piece can really come together.

Layout