MURAL ART BOOTCAMP
with Muralist Jamar Duvol Pierre
Wednesdays, July 9 – August 13, 2025 | Manitou Springs, CO
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO — The Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts presents Mural Art Bootcamp, a six-week intensive designed for emerging and established artists ready to advance their public art careers. Led by New Orleans muralist and cultural storyteller Jamar Duvol Pierre, this immersive training combines hands-on learning, professional development, and real-world mural installation experience.
Hosted at Red Crags Arts & Agriculture House, part of Smokebrush Farm in Manitou Springs, participants will develop both personal and collaborative public art projects while gaining professional knowledge to launch or expand their mural careers.
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The program follows a three-track model, allowing participants to:
Professional Skills — Build Your Public Art Toolbox
Each session delivers practical training on the technical, business, and professional aspects of being a working muralist. Gain insider knowledge in materials, surface prep, scaling, installation, contracts, client and community relationships, and how to build a sustainable public art career.
Personal Project — Develop Your Mural Vision
Through guided mentorship, peer support, and studio practice, you’ll create your own original mural concept — from early sketches to a fully realized design. This track emphasizes your unique artistic voice and professional presentation skills, preparing you for public art calls, commissions, and career advancement.
Community Mural — Real-World Installation Experience
Work alongside fellow participants to co-design and install a large-scale public mural in a triptych format. This hands-on project offers real-world experience in collaborative design development, community storytelling, project planning, and mural execution.
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PROGRAM DETAILS
• Bootcamp Duration: Six weeks — July 9 to August 13, 2025
• Who Can Join: Artists ages 17+
• Enrollment Limit: 12 participants
• Weekly Schedule: Wednesdays | 1:00–4:00 PM
• Tuition: $180 per student
• Location: Red Crags Arts & Agriculture House, 302 El Paso Boulevard, Manitou Springs, CO
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SIX-WEEK CURRICULUM SNAPSHOT
📆 WEEK 1 — Storytelling Foundations: Drawing Inspiration from Nature (July 9)
• Explore murals as cultural expression through guided group discussion.
• Nature walk & sketching exercises to inspire personal designs.
• Group ideation for the collaborative community mural.
📆 WEEK 2 — Design Translation: Scale, Color & Composition (July 16)
• Technical training in grid transfer, color theory, and mural scaling.
• Studio practice developing scaled designs and color studies.
• Collaborative palette building for unified mural composition.
📆 WEEK 3 — Design Development: Composition, Critique & Refinement (July 23)
• Live Q&A and mentorship with Jamar Pierre.
• Focused studio time for refining individual proposals.
• Begin merging individual design elements into the group mural storyboard.
📆 WEEK 4 — Building Your Mural Career: Business, Branding & Surface Techniques (July 30)
• Professional training in contracts, budgeting, legal considerations, and preservation.
• Studio focus on adding lighting, dimension, and depth to personal designs.
• Finalize group mural layout and painting assignments.
📆 WEEK 5 — Installation Prep: Community Partnerships & Painting Launch (August 6)
• Community engagement strategies and client relations training.
• Complete final mural proposals for instructor and peer review.
• Launch mural installation and begin collaborative painting on-site.
📆 WEEK 6 — Portfolio Launch & Program Celebration (August 13)
• Portfolio and career-building workshop on applying for public art commissions.
• Final presentations of personal mural proposals.
• Complete mural installation and celebrate participants' achievements.
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About Jamar Duvol Pierre
Born and raised in New Orleans, Jamar Duvol Pierre is a self-taught artist and educator with over 25 years of experience. Known for his vibrant palette and cultural storytelling, his work includes the Tchoupitoulas Street Floodwall Mural and “Resilience”, the official artwork for New Orleans’ tricentennial. His art is community-driven and globally recognized, with pieces featured in collections including the Library of Congress.
https://www.artbyjpierre.com/
About the Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts
The Smokebrush Foundation for the Arts nurtures creativity, ecological awareness, and holistic education through art and agriculture. From its home in Manitou Springs, Smokebrush supports healing, expression, and community connection through transformative experiences.
https://www.smokebrush.org/
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Red Crags Arts and Agriculture House
Smokebrush Farm
302 El Paso Boulevard
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
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To learn more about the Mural Art Bootcamp, see the full schedule and curriculum, or register, visit www.smokebrush.org/mural-bootcamp/ or email
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Purchase tickets from Humanitix
https://events.humanitix.com/mural-art-boot-camp
Learn more about Jamar Duvol Pierre at www.artbyjpierre.com
Foundation Website: www.smokebrush.org
Schedule and Curriculum:
https://www.smokebrush.org/mural-bootcamp/#mural-schedule
https://www.facebook.com/events/2790763107790410/2804739723059415/
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Funded in part by the Manitou Arts, Culture and Heritage Initiative with funding from City of Manitou Springs Sales and Use Tax approved by the voters in 2019.
https://www.manitouspringsco.gov/558/_Manitou-Arts-Culture-and-Heritage-Board
Also check out other Arts events in Manitou Springs, Workshops in Manitou Springs, Fine Arts events in Manitou Springs.
