My First Mural: "In Bloom"

In November 2025, I finished my first mural, titled "In Bloom," on the levee of the Arkansas River in Pueblo Colorado. This piece is part of the ongoing Levee Mural Project to break the world record for largest outdoor canvas.

Painting on the Arkansas River levee has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life as an artist. Looking back, it’s almost hard to believe how fast it all unfolded.

I first saw the levee murals in late 2024, just after moving here to Pueblo. I was captivated by this wall of art, but at the time, I wasn’t sharing my art or pursuing experiences like this. I was too afraid, holding myself back from fully stepping into what I wanted to do. Fast forward to August 2025, and I entered and won my first art show in ten years. My dad, Randy, and his partner, Maggie, were there, and I shared with them my desire to paint on the levee. They generously offered to fund the project, and by the very next day, I was working on a concept design. I barely made the September deadline, but just a few weeks later, I was standing on the wall with brushes in hand. It felt as if each time I blinked, the next step had already begun.

This was my first mural, and I had never even used a harness before. I’m scared of heights, and yet here I was, repelling at a 45-degree angle above the Arkansas River to create a 24x24 foot piece of morning glories rising toward the Pueblo sun, meant as a symbol of hope, renewal, and an artist and community in bloom together. The environment was unlike anything I had experienced. Trains passed constantly behind me, fishermen cast lines in the water below, people stopped to watch, talk, or share their own stories. The sky and scenery shifted every day as autumn turned to winter. The light changed, the air cooled, and time seemed to stretch and compress all at once.

Working on the wall demanded patience, focus, and persistence. It challenged me physically and emotionally. The harness, the heights, the long hours, the constant sun, it was all intense. But the wall gave back even more than it demanded. I met so many incredible people along the way, like strangers who offered encouragement, fellow levee artists who welcomed me warmly, and a community that felt both supportive and inspiring. One artist said something to me that has stayed with me: “The wall changes you.” And it does. You leave a piece of yourself out there, and you walk away carrying a piece of it with you.

The process itself was messy and imperfect, mirroring the larger journey of healing and growth in my own life. Paint was spilled, supplies were lost and broke, sections reworked, and there were moments of hesitation when my inner voice felt much, much louder than my confidence. But I kept going. 

Healing isn't an easy or pleasant process. It's hard, messy work, full of mistakes and setbacks, and it requires falling down and getting back up again and again. Each time I adjusted a section or painted over a mistake, it reminded me that persistence and trust in the process matter more than perfection.

Through it all, I discovered how deeply I love working on murals. This medium, this scale, this connection to a community and a place, it’s something I want to continue seeking out. The levee isn’t just a wall, it’s a living part of the city, a space where stories, creativity, and resilience meet. Being part of it, contributing my own work, and seeing it come alive has been profoundly rewarding.

Now, standing back and reflecting, I feel stronger, more certain, and more open than ever. This mural won’t be my last on the levee, it’s just the beginning. I’m grateful for the city, for this wall, for the people I met along the way, and for the life that keeps offering opportunities to create, grow, and connect.

I’ll carry this experience with me, and I can’t wait to see where the next step leads.

♡Nicole Lachele

A special thank you to Randy Thomsen and Maggie Moore for funding this project, as well as Torin McCormick for his assistance painting on the wall, and Cynthia Ramu for her guidance and ongoing support.

Photo Credit:

Tyler Street Photography

Torin McCormick