Kids paint colorful murals

Last Friday was a memorable experience for David and Patti Hanley of Whitehall.

They not only got to spend time with numerous grandchildren who were staying at their house, there basement exercise room was transformed into eight distinctive murals.

Patti came up with the idea and enlisted the help of local artist Bonnie Graham. The two had met while working together at Cardwell School, and planned out a project for Patti's grandchildren.

Graham had each of the eight children first draw out their design on regular paper before painting it on the wall. Hanley said it is a really fun project for the kids and could not have done it without the help of Graham.

Granddaughter Madison painted a Tiger, granddaughter Katie painted a sunset overlooking the ocean, grandson Tanner painted a hawk, granddaughter Payton painted a flower, granddaughter Josephine painted a barn, granddaughter Elizabeth painted a sunset, granddaughter Morgan painted a heart and granddaughter Victoria painted the moon over an island.

Patti said two more of her grandchildren would be visiting soon to add to the murals.

Graham said the oldest granddaughter Victoria came up with a clever tagline for the project.

"Why hang art on the wall when the art IS the wall," Victoria told Graham.