Trending

Rhode Island artist spray paints revolving neighborhood mural to lift spirits

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Artist Paul Morse is trying to bring his East Providence neighborhood a little holiday cheer, one can of spray paint and garage canvas at a time.

It all began in October, when Morse, a lifelong artist who said he first dabbled with graffiti in the sixth grade, asked one of his elderly Vincent Avenue neighbors if she minded him re-imagining her blank garage door with a mural, WJAR reported.

“She told me yes. I promised her if I didn’t have a mural up, I would paint it its normal color,” he told the TV station.

>> Read more trending news

Now, the door changes with the seasons, so to speak, and Morse loves every minute of it.

“I’m always using it. I’m always painting it. The first was at Halloween, when I realized people enjoyed it,” he told WJAR.

And attention, it turns out, breeds inspiration.

“There’s two schools right down the street from me. And because of COVID, they go for walks, and they come down here, stop there and take pictures, and I’m always changing it. So I’m like, ‘I’ll do it for all the holidays.’” Morse told the TV station.

As Halloween gave way to more wintry wonderland vibes, Morse decided on a Grinch-themed Christmas mural that also includes Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and a 2020 graphic with a mask, the TV station reported, PennLive reported.

“Art is a great way for self-expression and creativity. It gives kids something to do,” Morse told WJAR, noting he’s willing to teach free classes to any of the schoolchildren interested in his craft.

According to PennLive, Morse is recovering from knee replacement surgery but is hopeful he will mend quickly enough to paint a new neighborhood mural for the New Year.