Precision in execution: Po completing the final brushwork on the Strong mural. This level of sharpness and opacity is achieved through meticulous free-hand brush painting, ensuring the Storytelling Art remains brilliantly vivid from any viewing distance.
Here is the article by the Kingstonist about the Strong Enterprises mural that I painted for them. The mural is entitled: “Strong and Growing Stronger.”
Let’s Bring Your Vision to Life with Vivid Storytelling Art
I value a positive, collaborative process that respects the direction and stories of every business, organization and collector with whom I work. My clients trust me to provide the technical know-how and professional oversight required to move from an initial creative concept to a high-end execution – delivered on time and as envisioned.
I hope that you find my artwork inspirational, uplifting, welcoming and most of all, BEAUTIFUL!
I am often asked why I create attention grabbing, beautiful artworks, that generate discussion and the mutual sharing of stories. My response is:
“LIFE JUST FEELS BETTER WHEN WE SMILE!”
Portia “Po” Chapman, Kingston Artist
Specializing in: Community Placemaking, Storytelling Art Research, Project Execution
To Start Your Project, Reach Out via the Contact Information Below:
Portia “Po” Chapman in her Kingston Art Studio, documenting the intersection visual arts research, nature-focused colour-blocking, and professional project execution.
Drum December Archive
Join Po on her step-by-step journey of making a deer over white oak frame drum.
This is a new 2026 addition that will take a deep dive into Po’s world of inter-disciplinary, storytelling art. Po pioneers the contemporary manifestations of visual storytelling illustration art by merging sculpture, installation, murals & drums with traditional print and digital mediums.
Shortlisted mural proposal by Kingston artist Portia “Po” Chapman for the Robert Bruce Memorial Parking Garage.
What Is a Mural? A Simple Definition
A mural is a large-scale artwork painted or applied directly onto a wall or architectural surface — indoors or outdoors. Murals often transform plain walls into powerful visual stories and can serve cultural, community, decorative, or branding purposes.
Where Are Murals Typically Found?
Murals are among the oldest forms of human expression. Prehistoric communities painted animals and symbols inside the caves of Lascaux and Altamira, creating one of the earliest records of human imagination and daily life.
Over time, murals appeared in:
Egyptian tombs
Roman villas
Byzantine churches
Renaissance cathedrals
royal courts
civic buildings
These early murals documented history, mythology, religion, social order, local life, and cultural values.
Unlike portable canvases, murals were integrated directly into the spaces where people lived and gathered — making art part of everyday life rather than a luxury object.
Murals as Social Voice and Public Expression
In the 20th century, murals became powerful tools for social storytelling and cultural empowerment.
The Mexican Mural Movement
Artists like Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros used murals to:
depict working-class lives
celebrate Indigenous heritage
critique colonialism and oppression
advocate social change
Murals became visual public conversation.
Community & Identity
In many places — including Ireland, South America, and North America — murals have been used to:
assert identity
preserve memory
inspire civic pride
spark dialogue
Murals allow communities to see themselves reflected in public space.
Modern Murals — Transforming Urban Environments
‘Building a Bright Future’ — a circular mural by Kingston artist Portia ‘Po’ Chapman created for Base31 in Picton, celebrating the site’s historic past and its new cultural identity.
Today, murals are commissioned for:
homes
offices
cafés
cultural centers
schools
playgrounds
public buildings
city walls
They add character, colour, and emotional connection to environments that might otherwise be plain or anonymous.
A mural can: ✔ make a neighbourhood feel cared for ✔ help a business stand out ✔ brighten a public walkway ✔ create community engagement ✔ become a local landmark
Murals invite people to pause, look, and feel.
Murals as Transformative Elements in Modern Spaces
One powerful example of this is Po’s large-scale custom mural created for Strong Enterprises in Belleville, Ontario. Designed specifically for a contemporary open-concept headquarters, the mural functions not just as artwork, but as an architectural feature woven into the identity of the space. With its Bauhaus-inspired forms, generational story, and colours that echo the landscape seen through the building’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the mural becomes both a visual anchor and a narrative centrepiece — a living expression of the company’s values, past, and future.
“Strong and Growing Stronger” — a custom mural by Kingston artist Po Chapman for Strong Enterprises headquarters, celebrating four generations of family legacy and growth.
Mural Techniques — From Classical Fresco to Contemporary Methods
Po painting final details on her ‘Exploring the Senses’ mural at Base31’s Sensory Garden.
Modern mural artists use many techniques, including:
Fresco — pigment applied to wet plaster
Acrylic painting — durable and colour-strong
Oil on mounted canvas — later installed on walls
Spray paint & aerosol art
Projection-based layout
Digital-to-wall transfer
Mixed media & textural methods
Today, murals are both an art form and a technical craft — requiring knowledge of materials, architecture, weather resistance, and scale.
For examples of Po’s hand-painted techniques, you can explore her custom mural services.
Why Murals Matter
Murals bring art to everyone — not just those who visit galleries or museums.
They are:
accessible
democratic
collaborative
culturally meaningful
Murals change how people feel about their city, their workplace, their community — and themselves.
They are landmarks, memory-anchors, and emotional colour in physical space.
Murals in Kingston & the Surrounding Region
Po’s murals in Kingston connect contemporary colour-blocking and modern visual storytelling to the fabric of the city. Each mural is designed in conversation with:
the space
the community
the history
the client’s vision
Whether for a home interior, a business storefront, or a community space, a mural by Po brings:
✔ warmth ✔ identity ✔ energy ✔ meaning ✔ visual harmony
Example of Po’s colourful mural designs in a children’s playroom.
While Po is based in Kingston, many of her mural and installation projects extend throughout the surrounding region — including Prince Edward County and other Eastern Ontario communities. One of the most beloved examples is “Exploring the Senses,” a large interactive mural created for Base31’s Sensory Garden in Picton.
Po’s ‘Exploring the Senses’ mural installed at Base31’s Sensory Garden in Picton, Ontario.
Commissioning a Mural — The Process
Working with a professional mural artist typically involves:
Initial conversation & intention
Site visit & measurements
Concept sketches
Colour & mood selection
Timeline & technical planning
Execution of the mural
Protective finishing
If you’re considering a mural for your home, business, or community space, visit Po’s Mural Commissions Page for details.
How to Choose the Right Wall for a Mural
Consider:
Lighting
Visibility
Surface texture
Environmental exposure
Audience & purpose
Long-term durability
Indoor vs outdoor application
Custom Murals by Love Art by Po
Great spaces don’t happen by accident — they are shaped with intention. Whether you’re creating a place for families, communities, students, or a growing business, a mural becomes a statement about the environment you’re building. It communicates care, identity, and the desire to shape an experience that people genuinely feel.
And when you’ve poured vision, effort, and heart into what you’re creating, you deserve a space that reflects that same level of purpose and pride.
Po offers:
interior murals for homes
business & office murals
restaurant & café murals
children’s room murals
faith-space and reflective murals
public / exterior murals for community areas
Po works out of Kingston and serves clients across the wider region, from Toronto to Ottawa.
Bring Your Story to Life Through Mural Art
Art has a way of meeting people exactly where they are. Whether you’re building a home that feels magical, shaping a space where children learn and explore, revitalizing a community environment, or leading a business with a story worth telling — a custom mural changes how people experience a place.
Po’s murals are created for families, founders, educators, dreamers, doers, community builders, and anyone who wants a space to feel alive with meaning and colour. Every project — big or small, playful or powerful — begins with a conversation about your story.
If you’re ready for a mural that reflects who you are, what you value, and what you’re building for the future, Po would love to create something unforgettable for you.
Hand-painted kitchen murals may feel like a recent design trend, but their history stretches back thousands of years. As long as humans have gathered around food and fire, we have decorated the spaces where we cook, eat, and connect. These murals reflect cultural values, artistic innovation, and the evolution of the kitchen itself. (See the original sample kitchen without mural.)
Below is a journey through time exploring how kitchen murals began, how they changed, and why they continue to flourish today.
Ancient Beginnings: Art Around the Hearth – FromCave Paintings to Early Communal Kitchens
Long before contemporary kitchens existed, early humans adorned the walls of communal living spaces with painted symbols and scenes. The spaces where people prepared food were often decorated with images of animals, hunts, and daily life.
These early images did more than beautify spaces, they told stories, marked traditions, and connected communities.
Egyptian and Roman Domestic Art
In ancient Egypt, homes of wealthy families featured painted walls depicting food, agriculture, and abundance. These symbols reflected the household’s prosperity and honoured deities connected to nourishment.
The Romans pushed wall painting even further. In Pompeii and Herculaneum, frescoes decorated kitchens, pantries, and dining areas with images of fruits, fish, wines, and market scenes.
Medieval and Renaissance Kitchens: Function First, Decoration Later
During the Middle Ages, kitchens were utilitarian, smoky, and often separate from the main living quarters. Decoration was limited due to soot and open flames. Still, some monasteries and noble estates painted devotional symbols near hearths as blessings for safety and abundance.
With the Renaissance came a renewed interest in beauty within the home. Frescoes began appearing in dining halls and hearth rooms, including scenes of feasts, harvests, and nature. These early murals set the precedent for connecting kitchens and dining spaces with artistic expression.
The 17th–19th Centuries: Folk Art and Cultural Identity
As homes became cleaner and better ventilated, painted kitchen walls became more common, especially in rural communities.
European Folk Art Traditions
Regions such as:
Bavaria (Germany)
Scandinavia
Eastern Europe became known for bright, hand-painted kitchen motifs: flowers, birds, vines, and symbolic patterns.
These murals were typically done by local artisans or homeowners, making the designs deeply personal. They celebrated family heritage, religious beliefs, and seasonal cycles.
Colonial North America
Early North American settlers brought European traditions with them. Hand-painted stencils, sweeping floral garlands, and pastoral scenes decorated hearth rooms and kitchens. Many of these murals doubled as storytelling tools to record harvests, travels, or family events.
The Early 20th Century: Murals Meet Modern Design
As kitchens became more central to the home as gathering spaces, rather than just practical spaces, kitchen murals experienced a revival.
Arts & Crafts Movement
This movement celebrated craftsmanship and natural motifs. Hand-painted tiles and wall panels featuring fruits, flowers, and farm life became common, particularly in English and American kitchens.
Art Deco & Art Nouveau Eras
Sleek, stylized murals with geometric or botanical themes brought elegance to kitchens, often blending artistic flair with the era’s growing interest in beautifying the home.
Post-War Boom: Murals as Cheerful Homemaking
The 1950s and 1960s brought bright colors, optimism, and a quickly growing home décor industry.
Popular Themes Included:
Fruit baskets
Vineyards
Roosters and country motifs
Cheerful kitchen scenes
Checkerboard patterns
Decorative borders
Hand-painted murals and stencilling kits became widely available, allowing everyday people to personalize their kitchens for the first time.
Late 20th Century to Today: Custom Art for Modern Lifestyles
The contemporary kitchen is a social space, and murals have reemerged as a sophisticated and creative form of self-expression. Today’s hand-painted kitchen murals combine historical inspiration with contemporary design and technique.
Current Trends Reflect:
Nature and botanicals — a nod to earlier folk traditions
Food and wine themes — inspired by Roman and Tuscan frescoes
Minimalist line art — echoing modern aesthetics
Cultural motifs — celebrating heritage
Large-scale abstract murals — turning kitchens into art installations
Artisans now use durable paints, sealants, and washable surfaces, allowing murals to stand up to heat, moisture, and daily use.
Why Hand-Painted Kitchen Murals Remain Desired
Across centuries, cultures, and artistic movements, kitchen murals have persisted because they provide:
A personal story: They connect the homeowner to heritage, memory, and meaning.
A sense of warmth: Art transforms a utilitarian space into a welcoming space.
A celebration of food and community: Murals reinforce the kitchen’s emotional significance.
Timeless craftsmanship: Hand painting creates authenticity that printed murals can’t fully replicate.
Final Thoughts
The history of hand-painted kitchen murals is a history of home, family, and creativity. From ancient frescoes to contemporary custom artwork, these murals have always served as more than decoration; they are symbols of nourishment, heritage, family, and the beauty of everyday life.
Contact Po, if you’re ready to create a mural that sets your kitchen apart from your friends and families’ kitchens with a bold, contemporary, and hand-painted mural. Book your complimentary e-consultation and you can collaborate to design a wall that leaves a lasting impression and tells your story.
Day in the Life of Portia Po Chapman by the Toronto Guardian, November 13, 2024 was Published in Response to Kingston’s Portia “Po” Chapman Mural Competition Win for Strong Enterprises in Belleville.
The Toronto Guardian headline states that Po is a Toronto artist. Although she is a Muralist trying to break into the GTA art market, Po is based in Kingston, Ontario. Other than that edit, the following “Day in the Life” article was an accurate telling of Po’s story in 2024.
I want to thank Emilea Semancik for doing a smashing job on this article.
As an emerging contemporary artist in Ontario, Canada, it has been an exciting month, November 2024 and we are only 13 days in. I received two public features and one day-in-the-life article. I presented my drums and educated the public about drumming and the beauty of the drum making process. Plus my “Sharing Wisdom: Tending to Nature’s Little Ones,” drum was featured in the entrance of the Kingston City Hall gallery in the inaugural show: Kingston Artists’ Showcase. Many more exciting things too. You’ll just have to wait to find out.
Love Art by Po 
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