STARS IN THE SKY VALLEY: Muralist David Hose brings community buildings to life

By Valeria Rae

With genuine enthusiasm and affection, local artist and muralist David Hose shares his love of art and the Sky Valley Community.

David remembers feeling the urge to draw as early as age three. He drew on everything he could get his hands on-á ' including the walls, to his mother's dismay. At school, he drew in the margins of his papers, and after high school he entered the art and design program at City College in San Francisco. David felt he received excellent instruction there from his teacher and mentor William Davis.

This was during the height of the 60s, and David experienced much of that scene as he continued to draw and paint. He then became a member of an international spiritual organization and, as an official, traveled the world. Throughout his journeys, which lasted for 25 years, he was able to appreciate the great art masters of many cultures while filling several sketch books with his own work.

In 1991, an accident severely injured his wife. He resigned from his position in the organization and moved back to his hometown of Seattle in the hopes of making a living doing his art. Fortunately, a friend gifted David with a tile glazing business, which is how he came to create miniature murals to sell at the public art market.

Then in 1995, he was offered an opportunity to paint four wall-sized murals on a hotel in Las Vegas. This launched his career as a life-size muralist.

The family, David, his wife and five children, moved to Monroe in March 2004, and by that summer David had completed his first local mural on the side of the Haight Carpet building on Lewis Street. He outbid another artist from Seattle, impressing the owners with his design and tenacity. He called it "The River of Life.GÇ¥

David has since been commissioned to paint beautiful murals on the Napa site, the post office in Sultan, the American Legion building in Snohomish ' his largest work ' and many others.

David's intention is to create works that lend a feel of comfort and can be related to and loved by the public for years to come. He says his art is really about people.-á

When asked which mural is his personal favorite, David smiled and said, "It is "The River of Life,' because it was my first after moving to Monroe, and it opened many doors with the Sky River community.GÇ¥

He also feels especially warm toward the old gas station he painted on the Napa building, as it led to one of his best friendships, with the owner Larry Bienz. The military mural on the American Legion in Snohomish completed last year is particularly special to him, as it depicts men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and way of life.

David is currently working on several projects, including an extension of the mural in the new Main Street Caf+¬, an eye catching scene of a fisherman on the Skykomish river in Adam's Northwest Bistro and Brewery, completing the train mural on the side of the Masonic Lodge, and a new mural at the Bad Dog Espresso Coffee Shop on East Marine Drive in Everett. David also does private mural work for individuals.

In addition to high quality, engaging depictions of life in a small town, David also paints portraits, which he loves to do. He says he likes to capture what is normally invisible in a person's face.-á -á

When asked to share something about himself that most folks don't know, David said he feels like a 15-year-old in a senior body. "Age,GÇ¥ he asserts, "is a product of the mind.GÇ¥ David intends to continue his long and rewarding career of offering his uplifting work as a service to his community.

Lastly, David shares one of his favorite quotes by French impressionist Edgar Degas: "An artist has to have a high conception, not of what he is doing, but of what he may do one day: without that, there's no point in working.GÇ¥

David's advice to readers is to understand that the only limits we have are those we set upon ourselves. Everyone has a special, unique genius, so don't let the herd drown out your voice.

Feel free to say hi to David or just give him a thumbs up when you see him about town bringing buildings to life. He can also be reached at The American Light Studio-á by email at davidhose.777@gmail.com.

Valeria Rae has lived in the Monroe area since 1989 and considers Monroe her hometown. Rae recently retired from a career as a school psychologist, having worked in several surrounding districts as well as Monroe.