Local artist colors halls of Rifle Middle School

Rifle Middle School students received a spectacular surprise when they came to school on Monday. Orcas playing among the cotton-ball puffy clouds against a perfect Colorado blue sky among the message that “Books can take you places.”

Local artist Jeremy Velasquez was commissioned to create the piece by the Rifle Middle School Student Council. You may know Jeremy’s work. He completed the whale mural on the 625-water building, and most recently, he completed a mural on Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs featuring a bighorn sheep.

Jeremy presented a conceptual design and mockup to school administrators, and was given the go ahead to work his magic on the hallways of Rifle Middle.

“I wanted to do something that everyone would like. I just wanted to create something that was less about a specific idea but a good image - something real fun, inspiring, visually striking and a little bit magical.”

His skyward orcas hovering over a child deeply absorbed in her book is all of that.

Jeremy’s preferred medium is spray paint. The entire piece, including the detail work, is done with spray paint. 

“I’ve been using spray paints for many years. I can manipulate it the way I want to. It came out really nice,” he enthused. “As a kid,  I was really inspired by these kinds of pieces. When I was that age, you had to go to the city to see anything spray painted.”

The message resonates with Jeremy as well.

“I didn’t go to school for art. I referenced a lot of books to discover artists and techniques. There were several books that helped me,” said Jeremy. “It’s important for young people to discover what sets them on fire and what they are passionate about and pursue it at all costs. I wished I would have done it earlier. If you find something you are interested in and pursue it, it’s not really a job. Books can help you get there. Find out what you are interested in and pursue it and books can help you along the way.”.