The desire to become an artist came to Melissa Francis at an early age.
For as long as the 24-year-old from Gander Bay can remember, she's wanted to make drawing her way of life.
Francis has put together a couple of shows and operates Studio 120 out of Gander, where she currently calls home.
It is that desire to paint that led her to spend a couple of weeks with Charlie Johnston last summer as he worked on a mural in the Town of Botwood ahead of the 2018 Global Mural Conference in that town.
“That made me realize this is what I want to do for a living,” said Francis.
The work she did with Johnston – albeit for a brief time – was enough to get her to approach Gander town council about putting her stamp on the community through a mural depicting a piece of the town’s history. That was in February and at the time, Francis was told there was no money in the town’s budget for a mural.
However, there was money allocated to paint seven traffic boxes in the town and earlier this month, Francis was given the go ahead by council after a call for proposals finished up July 5.
Francis didn’t waste time getting started. She’s completed one traffic box already and is in the process of completing a second.
“I have a couple of ideas and I’ve been brainstorming other ones,” she said of what she has planned.
Those ideas include highlighting the construction of Gander International Airport, as well as depicting the town’s connection to the Second World War.
Located at various places around town, the traffic boxes are giving Francis the chance to work outside and knock off part of her painting bucket list.
With such a project, there is sure to be nerves about messing up, especially in such a public space. A member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, Francis will take part in a similar project at the band’s offices in Corner Brook.
However, Francis was once told there are no mistakes in painting – there is always the chance to paint over or re-touch it.
“Living in Gander, I am more than happy to be a part of this project,” said Francis.
