Happy New Year!

I'm not sure whether this White Rock Beach mural is a sunrise or a sunset. Whether it's  the sun setting on 2012, or rising on 2013, it comes with wishes for a very

happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year!

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Waves and whales

This coloring-book-style mural once decorated the side of one of the utility / washroom buildings along the White Rock promenade. The last time I was by, the mural had disappeared, however.



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Doorway whimsy

This mural adorns an entrance way with a light touch. I'm not positive about the location, but I think it's White Rock, B.C.


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Sandcastle fantasy

This mural depicting sandcastles by Elizabeth Hollick was painted on a wall facing Marine Drive in White Rock B.C. It recalls the glory days of the White Rock Sandcastle Festival.

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smooth and sweet

Mural on the wall of the Washington Avenue Grill - White Rock B.C.

Sneak a peek at paradise

This long skinny mural transforms the wall beside a doorway into an idyllic vista. (Also in White Rock BC).

Two grand dames

Seen from the beachfront walk at White Rock Beach, B.C.

Nature's icons

"Natural BC" by Jennifer Lee.

This stylized landscape is found on one of the washroom / utility buildings along the sea walk in White Rock, BC.

Alice on Crescent Beach

You'll find this sweet birthday greeting on a wall along the beach walk at Crescent Beach. (Obviously the taggers have found it too *sigh.*) Click to enlarge.

Beach tapas

This mural gives even those guests seated by the wall a view on the patio of a little tapas restaurant - in White Rock.

Logging memories

A magical dragon scene used to decorate the side of this building on the White Rock Promenade. But in August 2008 it was replaced with this scene from B.C.s logging history. (Gorgeous painting - it should be in a gallery!)

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Beach creature

This fanciful dragon mural decorates the wall of one of the washroom buildings along the promenade on the White Rock beach. It was painted by Elizabeth Hollick, a local artist and mural painter.

Other murals by Hollick include these two on Commercial Drive in Vancouver. They are part of the Graffiti Management Program initiative.






Take the Graffiti Management Program Virtual Mural Tour to see over 100 more murals from all over Vancouver.

White Rock whaling wall

One of my favorite local murals is this whale mural in White Rock, seen on Johnston Road as you head toward the beach.

A little sleuthing on the internet has netted me some interesting info about it.

The 21 metre long mural of three life-size gray whales was painted by Wyland, in September of 1984. At the time he was only 28 years old and lived in California. It was the fourth of Wyland's "whaling walls." In February this year he completed number 95 in Key Largo.

List of Wyland's whaling walls

Wyland painting whaling wall 79 in California.



Painting the Key Largo wall (number 95).



and fast-forward ...

Summery mural

It's mural season again! I don't know why but somehow the summer seems more conducive to photographing murals than winter. This bright painting from White Rock, B.C. is sure to get one in a summer mood. Happy first day of summer!

White Rock B.C.

White Rock beach was where we took our walk on Saturday. It certainly still had that summer getaway feel to it.

This small mural depicting the White Rock beach front decorates the front of one of the Marine Drive eateries. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)



One of the many spirit bear statues found in various places around the lower mainland, is on the plaza in front of the old train station. It is part of the “Spirit Bears in the City” project.





The Spirit Bear is actually the Kermode Bear. This white bear is not a polar bear or an albino but a recessive gene black bear. These bears inhabit various parts of the rain forest in British Columbia and have been adopted by some as a symbol of British Columbia.