Teen Completing Literary Mural at the Bristol Public Library

BRISTOL, Va. – Young artist Rozemary Hess is adjusting these days to having an audience looking over her shoulder as she paints.
Patrons of the Bristol Public Library often pause for a few moments to watch the 18-year-old sketch a wall-size mural or use a small brush to dab color into the details.
“I wanted to do something the teens would like, to inspire them to read more and still do something with a library theme,” said Hess, as she added pink skin tone to the outline of a werewolf.
The teen has been involved in the library’s reading program for years.
The mural – filling a 13-foot section of a previously blank wall in the library’s ground-floor teen area – features 20 characters from literature and history. Vampires and a Frankenstein monster fill the space, along with such political figures as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. There also are generic figures of a doctor, construction worker, an elf, fairy and a genie. All of the characters are reading books.
While she lacks formal art training beyond a high school class, the Bristol, Va., resident has been drawing since she was 3.
“I would like to do this for a career, but if I don’t, I’ll still always be drawing something,” Hess said.
Teen Librarian Tonia Totten discovered the talent of Hess, who is now being paid by the library for her work.
“I was in the [library’s] teen summer reading program since I was 13. Tonia saw some things I’d drawn and asked if I’d like to do something for the teen area,” Hess said.
She designed a small version of the mural and then went through a lengthy approval process with the library board’s teen committee.
After taking a few weeks to carefully sketch the outline on the wall and paint in the black outline, Hess is now adding color during her two days off from her regular job as a grocery store clerk.
“Hopefully, it will be done in a few weeks, maybe a few months,” she said, looking at the vast expanse of unfinished characters.
Library officials, who typically feature a number of art forms throughout the facility, welcomed the newest addition, Marketing Director Emily Everett said.
“I think it’s great that someone who was active in our teen program has this kind of talent and wants to contribute to our teen department and show other teens what can be done,” Everett said.
A “lot of people” stop to watch Hess work, she said.
“It’s amazing,” Everett said while surveying the progress. “We have an emphasis on artwork and we have that extensive mural in our children’s area. This area was quite plain and teens aren’t plain.”

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