#mural-art

#mural-art

NeSpoon uses paint and the power of contrast to create large-scale lace patterns in a celebration of the craft. Often symmetrical, they appear framed by the outlines of corners and roofs, while windows and doors emphasize the murals' scale. From a distance, the patterns appear flawless, as if they could be printed. Up close, it's clear the lines are sprayed and brushed by hand, emphasizing the handmade.

Some look like the unhappy heart from the Un Verano Sin Ti album cover, and others take the form of the singer's original logo: a white bunny with crossed-out eyes. "We start with a basic image, but as you build the piñata, you find so many different ways to add more detail, texture and spark," Bustamante says. "When you present the piñata to a child on their big day, and you see their huge smile, that's the best part of the process."

The house is packed with charm, and its spirit was felt by Emily the moment she first saw it. "I'd just had Bea, and through the sleep deprivation I could see very clearly that this house was fully magic," she writes, explaining that it reminded her of the "glowing family life" set designs of Richard Curtis, something she wanted to emulate. "A family house where I could tie balloons on the gate for birthdays and enough space for learning to ride a bike."

Earlier this fall, a flock of birds descended upon New York City, flying through the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The arrival of these birds, however, isn't literal. They came to the city in the form of murals, thanks to the National Audubon Society's Mural Project. Since its launch more than 10 years ago, the project has produced 142 total murals around New York, with the goal of centering the birds most vulnerable to extinction from climate change.

There are plenty of old and historic restaurants all over the world, but few can boast quite as much star power as New York City's Monkey Bar. While other bars around the country might be more steeped in history, like a three-centuries-old Pennsylvania bar, for example, this Midtown establishment has got a history all of its own. Having opened in between the two World Wars in 1936, Monkey Bar still maintains that old-timey charm, even after having undergone some renovations and restoration in the 2000s.

"It's all about art, colors, and creativity," said McEneny, a well-known mural artist from Newport. "It brings everyone together."

The illusion takes the form of a snake on a wall, cleverly using the angles of the corridor's corners to make the snake appear suspended in real life.