Before & After: A Manhattan Elementary School Got a Colorful Upgrade

Kids love a good DIY just as much as big people do, and it’s fun to see them get an opportunity to express their creativity. Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Alexander Robertson School, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, where Colorhouse Paints partnered with CITYarts, a public art initiative in New York, to create a huge mural on the wall of the school’s auditorium. Well, Colorhouse provided the paint, the artists from CITYarts designed the mural — and the kids got to do the creating.

I would’ve loved an opportunity like this one, as a child, and these kids definitely seemed to be getting into it. Now, every time they see the mural, they’ll be able to say “I did that.” I even grabbed a paintbrush and helped out a bit — painting a mural is a bit like coloring, but far more soothing. I definitely recommend it.

Colorhouse produces a line of paints without volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other harmful chemicals, so nobody had to worry about paint fume highs.

Here are some of the young artists, taking a little break in the middle of painting.

Here’s the finished product — a colorful, psychedelic landscape with lots of scope for the imagination. Can they do my house next?

Click here to learn more about CITYarts’ public art initiatives.

Click here to learn more about Colorhouse paints.