Painting a Vibrant Mural at Thunderbird Hotel in Marfa, TX
SPRAYCATION 2024
Why Marfa, Texas Captures My Creative Heart
Marfa, Texas has always called to me — a tiny desert town bursting with creativity, colorful murals, desert landscapes, and an undeniable magic. I’ve visited Marfa many times before, but this trip helped me finally understand what makes it so special.
It’s not just the cute boutique hotels, the indie art galleries, or the great coffee shops (though I love those too).
The real magic of Marfa is in its people, its art, and the spirit of the desert.
Painting a Mural at Thunderbird Marfa Hotel
On this adventure, I was offered an incredible opportunity: painting a mural on the front entrance of the iconic Thunderbird Marfa Hotel. The otherwise subtle pale blue wall was begging for a pop of color.
The moment I saw it, I knew I loved that wall (is it weird to love a wall?! Artists are weird, #pinkhairdontcare). I didn’t overthink the design — I let the creativity flow and came up with this abstract contemporary work as my homage to Marfa magic.
In a whirlwind 48 hours, the wall negotiations, digital design, owner approval, gathering supplies, painting the mural, and capturing content all came together. Quick, colorful, and full of heart — just like Marfa itself.
Road Tripping from Austin to Marfa
The journey from Austin to Marfa was an adventure of its own. I drove 7 hours across the scorching Texas summer heat with my dog Storm — and no air conditioning! 🚐🌵 Talk about a test of endurance (and patience).
When we finally rolled into Marfa, the annual Agave Festival was underway, filling the town with energy and celebration. First stop: dinner at Capri, one of Marfa’s amazing local restaurants. Afterward, I aimed for Tumbleweed RV Park to catch some much-needed sleep…
We didn’t make it.
Making New Friends on the Road
AquaBurn (RV) took a turn for the worse when the entire exhaust system fell out from the bottom of the rig… on railroad tracks… on a lonely road… in the middle of a tiny ass town in west Texas. I could not believe that
we broke down THE VERY FIRST NIGHT of the tour. The Universe has a special way of slowing us down sometimes.
That night I spent 3.5 useless hours on the phone with AAA. They finally suggest that I call the local police. Two officers showed up and happily helped guide the RV from the middle of the road and railroad tracks. It took all three of us to move the rig. Of course the exhaust couldn’t just be pulled out from under the RV, it was laying on the back axel so we had to use ratchet straps and physically lift the exhaust system while I inched forward to a safer spot. Parked for the night, then stress ate way too many snacks and went to bed.
In the morning when I woke up, I realized that the RV was parked directly outside of the Motel Marfa, a fabulous up and coming boutique Motel in town. I then remembered that I had been virtually introduced to its owner, Jantzen through a mutual friend in Austin, TX.
The morning after my rig broke down I wandered into Motel Marfa that morning and found the owner, Jantzen, welding the entry doorways for the new motel. I humbly introduced myself and let him know that my rig was stuck out on the curb next to his property. I knew immediately that his heart was pure gold as he stopped what he was doing to offer to help me in any way that he could. He said I could stay as long as I needed, which was a huge relief.
I was then introduced to my soul sister, Hilary, who is also living nomadically in her custom-built van which SHE BUILT OUT HERSELF! Do you know those people that you just instantly click with when you meet? You just know that you vibe with one another. It feels natural and like you can just be yourself with no fucks given. We shared long talks about art, life, sobriety, family, travel, relationships and all the mess in between. Meeting these special people was a reminder of the good out there. There’s so many dope humans doing dope things.
Good friends fill our hearts and remind us why we are here… to connect, grow, and help one another. FIND these special people AND GROW TOGETHER.
Life is better done with others… am I right, or am I right? For me, I’ve learned that I’m fueled by human connection and interaction. I need it. Don’t get me wrong, I very much also need and enjoy my solo time. Like everything, there’s a balance. Throughout the SPRAYCATION Mural Tour, I’ve found myself really craving new connections and experiences. LIFE IS ABOUT LIVING! Part of solo traveling is learning how to make friends on the road. It can certainly bring up some nerves and requires us to step into a vulnerable place by putting ourselves out there to complete strangers. As many of you have heard me say before…
Building Self-Confidence on the Road
Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it!
Having the self-confidence to approach strangers and mingle in social settings is difficult for most of us. I believe that our self-confidence is built up over time, and we all know what rejection feels like. People can be really cruel sometimes when we approach them in the wild. But then I remind myself of all the good in people.
YOU ATTRACT WHAT YOU PUT OUT.
Now go out there and be bold and courageous when making new friends. You’ll likely surprise yourself with how open people are to cultivating a genuine connection. I graciously re-learned this lesson during my time in Marfa, TX.
About Thunderbird Motel
“Thunderbird Marfa is a locally run hotel since 1959, Bob Harris of Lake/Flato ARCHITECTS reinvigorated the Thunderbird’s classic “50’s horseshoe shape and interior courtyard for its 2005 reopening. The renovation transformed the structure into a model of modern design and livability while maintaining the original hotel’s bygone feeling. The Thunderbird is everything a small, 24-room boutique hotel should be, providing privacy, hospitality and stylishness without pretension. With its pool and pale blue exterior reflecting the desert sky.” — Agave Festival Marfa
