I’m a painter and muralist based in Austin, Texas, working at the intersection of fine art and public space. My work explores transformation, uncertainty, and resilience, inviting viewers to reflect on personal and collective change. This mural, Over Yonder, is a meditation on the act of becoming. A young cowboy stands at a threshold, vibrating alternate versions of himself, curious, open, and full of wonder. He exists in the moment before, when every path is still available and the future is unexplored.

Public art shape’s civic identity and sparks public dialogue. It reflects our past, responds to our present, and imagines our future. With Over Yonder, I hope viewers feel empowered to embrace curiosity and possibility. The work invites the Dallas community to linger on the threshold of potential and consider the paths they may forge in life.

My practice, whether in the studio or on public walls, is rooted in storytelling and social impact. This mural grew from my series Tides & Time, which bridges traditional painting techniques with surrealist influence. Figures stretch, dissolve, and unfold within dreamlike spaces, where clarity comes not from certainty but from holding space for the unknown. These high-contrast, layered compositions merge monumental cosmos with rolling tides, graphic patterns, and gestures of leaping, waiting, or becoming.

Originally designed digitally, the work was translated into a 24" x 30" fine art painting and now expanded into a 20' x 24' mural. The color palette combines moody blues of the cosmos with electric punches of color, reinforcing the theme of letting go of tradition and embracing the unknown, taking our heritage boldly into the future.

Like many of my murals, this piece blends brushwork and spray techniques. Classically trained, I bring traditional skills to every wall while also incorporating spray techniques honed over years of public art making. In keeping with the work’s theme, I combine Old Masters methods with contemporary tools, using digital software for mockups and a VR headset to project the design onto the wall. From there, I return to the physicality of painting, moving pigment with animal hair tied to stick, then layering and interacting with modern, mobile spray machines and aerosol paint to complete the composition.

Over Yonder began as part of a companion duo, with All Hat exploring the Texas saying, “All hat, no cattle” and examining identity as performance. While All Hat carries a muted palette and a bleak outlook, Over Yonder vibrates with possibility. The colorful cowboy embodies an expansive mindset, facing the future with curiosity, resilience, and openness. I hope viewers will see a celebration of potential, imagination, and the act of becoming. 

Evergreen by Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners