For one local stay at home mom, her family, her children, and painting are what makes her feel whole. Sarah Cannavo got a chance to support all three as she recently completely a 270-square-foot mural at the Mary E. Roberts Elementary School library.
A mother of two sons in the elementary school, Cannavo said she was hanging out in the elementary library last year when her son was being screened for kindergarten. Her eyes were drawn to a large blank area of the library wall — which at one point had been used for projecting purposes — and she overheard the chair of the Home and School Association of Mary E. Roberts mention how nice it would be to have a mural on the wall.
“I’m a stay at home mom, I used to do murals in children’s rooms and I could do it if they were interested,” she said. “I ended up submitting a sketch, it had to be approved by the BOE, and it was finally given the ok.”
Art has always been a passion of Cannavo’s, painting and drawing throughout her childhood and later on in her life. When she was in her early 20’s a friend was ready to have a baby and asked her if she would paint a mural on the nursery wall, Cannavo said.
It’s one of the best expressions of art, she said, and the experience enthralled her. She quickly started to commission murals for nurseries and it soon became a profession.
However, when she had her own children, Cannavo said she quickly dedicated herself to being a stay at home mom. This was the first project she decided to undertake since being a stay at home mother.
“I’m a stay at home mom for a reason, I feel like it’s best for my children, and I started to get worried, but the whole thing went so smoothly, I felt like it was a gift from God,” she said. “The baby sitter came in the morning and was able to play with my daughter, she loved her, and that was that. It’s built my confidence and this could definitely fit into my life again. Aside from being a mom this lights up my life, it’s a passion of mine.”
Cannavo began the project in October and for the first week she sketched out her design on the wall with chalk. The fantasy world features characters from literary history, such as a dragon, a princess, and Humpty Dumpty.
It was important to include timeless characters, she said, instead of characters from pop culture that might be forgotten in five years.
The project, which normally would cost about $6,000, was deeply discounted and fully funded by the Home and School Association for $1,800, including supplies and labor.
“When I first started the mural and before I actually walked in there and laid it out, I started to get really cold feet. Is it more than I can do? It’s a huge project and I have a one year old, a kindergartner, and a third grader, but it turned out so well,” she said. “As an artist I hope they like it and it stays up for decades. I did it with paint that should last for that long.”
