Langley artist Judy Pohl is painting the town beautiful with her latest murals brightening up McBurney Plaza.
The local artist is breathing life and energy into downtown Langley laneways with murals depicting sunflowers, buzzing bees, daisies, tall trees, brick farmhouses, windmills and other uplifting scenery.
Her latest mural — her biggest undertaking yet — was unveiled Wednesday morning. Pohl was joined by Langley City politicians and members of the Downtown Langley BIA who got their first look at the mural that has a feel like you are walking through old Montreal.
“It took a month to complete it,” said Pohl at the unveiling. “I think the mural will brighten up the downtown and create a little greenery in this space. I’m happy with how it turned out.”
The mural stretches the entire length of the plaza along two walls and depicts sunflowers behind a white picket fence with a backdrop of an alleyway one might see in historic Montreal.
The cats poking their heads out of one of the windows were painted by her 14-year-old daughter, Madalynn, who has inherited her mom’s artistic side.
“Those are actually our cats she drew,” said Pohl.
The ‘McBurney Plaza Laneway Activation mural’ was commissioned as part of Langley City’s 2017 Downtown Initiatives. The goal was to make this transitional space more inviting, safe and family friendly for Langley residents and visitors, said Langley City in a statement about the mural.
Pohl, of Judy’s Custom Art Services, specializes in painting murals, chalkboards, storefront windows and signs and has completed more than five murals in downtown Langley to date.
Her most recent mural in Salt Lane shows honeybees plucking nectar from big daisies.
The mural changed a drab wall into a vibrant, inviting scene of nature in all its beauty.
“I had a huge response for that mural from the owners of the building and from people in the area. That wasn’t a welcoming space at all before the mural. I think it brightened it up and is much more inviting now.”
Pohl has been busy in downtown Langley.
Her work includes the full sized mural at All of Oils on Douglas Crescent.
She recently completed several murals inside Timms Community Centre. An image depicting a rural roadway at sunset is her favourite. That one is where spin classes go on.
“I hid animals in the clouds because spin class can be pretty boring, so now people have something to find,” she said.
Last year, she painted a landscape mural on Fenton Lane. Pohl also has murals at Penzer Park and at Al Anderson Memorial Swimming Pool.
Downtown Langley is becoming a destination for murals, with Pohl’s paintbrush leading the way.
“I live downtown, so I walk around here all the time and I want it to be a place that is inviting and colourful,” she said. “I like colour.”
Vancouver hosts a popular mural festival every year where people come from all over to view the many walls that have been painted across that city.
Pohl is now focusing her brush on Santa and his elves, Rudolph and everything Christmas, specializing in window paintings on storefronts for the holidays.
“I focus solely on window painting until mid December,” she said. She loves painting happy snowmen and jolly Santas, she said. It usually takes her about two to three hours to do one window front. She still has some spots available.
Her fun cartoon window displays and chalkboard art can be seen at breweries, pubs, restaurants and even wooden signs with face cutouts for agri-tourism farms.
She’s also had the rewarding experience of painting happy and calming murals in office space where children gather, like an orthodontist’s office.
Pohl has been an artist her whole life.
“I painted a Winnie the Pooh mural in my bedroom when I was 11. I got in a bit of trouble for that, but it was pretty good,” she said.
For the most part, Pohl is self taught. She loves what she does and shows no signs of stopping her creativity.
“Langley City and the downtown merchants have been really good to me. I have lots of ideas for more murals,” she said.
She has one she wants to do that is personal, a tribute to people who have lost loved ones to Alzheimer’s. For that art piece, she hasn’t found a wall or alley yet, but she’s sure her vision and paintbrush will find a home soon.
To see all of Judy’s work or to book her to paint your window for Christmas go to judysart.ca.
