Artist behind 'The Starry Night' mural in London, Ont. encourages others to rediscover their passion
On a small street just east of Adelaide Street, there is evidence that an artist lives in the neighbourhood.
Perhaps the biggest sign is a mural that recreates Vincent van Gogh’s 'The Starry Night' painting.
“I looked at the garage, and I thought I am going to have to replace the doors, but then I thought, ‘No, I’ll try a mural first,’” said London artist Brenda Fuhrman.
Fuhrman moved into her home on Terrace Street two decades ago. She also owns a two car garage around the corner from her home on Josephine Street, where she painted the famous piece of art, 15 years ago.
“I asked the neighbor directly across from the garage who her favourite artist was, and then I brought over all these books on van Gogh, and she picked out which painting she would like to see on the garage door,” explained Fuhrman.
She has taken it upon herself to beautify her neighbourhood with various pieces of her artwork, mostly duplicating artwork she has always admired.
“We have a long fence facing our front door, and when I came out once, somebody had done a big tag on the fence, so I put up a bunch of copies again [of] storybook characters,” said Fuhrman.
Outside of her home on Terrace Street, you will also find a small mailbox containing small canvas artwork that she and her friends have created. She encourages people walking by to let her know and she gives the art away for free.
Fuhrman, who spent 20 years as a nurse before returning to school to become a lawyer, also has a fine arts degree from Western University.
“It’s not impossible for people to do more than one thing in life, and even if it is part-time. I just think it’s nice if you have something you are interested in when you were a child, and rediscover that, [and] carve out a piece of time to follow it,” added Fuhrman.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.