DILLON
CORSAIR
CORSAIR
One of my greatest accomplishments and pleasures was leading the creation of Tenafly’s Tiger Mural. Located on the Tenafly Public Library in the newly-named Tiger Courtyard, I took inspiration from the two marble lions sitting in front of the New York Public Library.
The composed demeanor of the tigers contrasts with the vibrant color palette, simultaneously conveying stability and energy. Many have asked me for the names and stories of the tigers, but I prefer that it be left to the people of Tenafly to invent for themselves.
I owe my greatest memories and friendships to Tenafly, so it was an honor to lead this project alongside student volunteers from Tenafly Bon Art Academy, generous community members, and with the enthusiastic help from my mom. I hope this contribution leaves a lasting positive impact and inspires local businesses and student artists to utilize each other’s vast potential to make Tenafly a more beautiful place.
To understand my subject, I studied the tiger’s anatomy and designs from Aaron Blaise (bottom left) and Jon Kuo (bottom right). This gave me insight into the important structures, curves, and shapes to emphasize when posing and rendering my tigers.
I used paint markers to explore different color and rendering approaches, drawn from videos of tigers to observe their movements and posing. I alternated between organic and geometric forms while varying temperature, contrast, and line-weight.
The final color palette was composed of 2 cool hues, 3 warm hues, and 4 neutrals. For the design of the tigers I embraced rounded contours and a subtle suggestion of form through the use of shadows and reflected light. The flat background of abstracted foliage amplifies their dimensionality while creating a vague sense of setting.
After primering the wall, I scaled my digital sketch using a tape measurer and Sharpie. I covered the drawing with tape to simplify painting the colors without obscuring the linework. I painted the background foliage freestyle while using the sketch as reference.
My favorite part about this experience was seeing how enthusiastic my community became about the project. Seeing people smile and say “woah, this is incredible” as they walk by was incredibly gratifying. I got to meet so many members of my community, old and young. Some even accepted my offer to pick up a brush and help paint. Compliments from strangers often turned into long, personal conversations. It gave me a deep appreciation for how much art can brighten people’s day and connect people across gaps.
Tenafly’s mayor Mark Zinna led an “unveiling” ceremony to recognize my contribution and that of the volunteers who assisted. It was amazing to see so many people come out to support the project’s completion. I’m proud to have made an impact in a place I care about so much.