A small pop of color gives a touch of swagger to a bicycling scuba diver.
Sitting atop a Penny-farthing, the scuba diver gives a thumbs up as he follows behind a squid.
Artist Brady Scott was given license to be creative with the mural that decorates a portion of the new Publik Bike Station. And he did, calling it a “labor of love.”
“I like anything vintage,” Scott said, looking at the mural. “And I thought it’d be fun to put him in a scuba suit.”
Scott can’t recall the first time he started to do artwork. He has been painting, chalking and drawing pictures since before he can remember. It has led to a career in graphic design at Luminous Neon.
He’s always happy to grab charcoal or an airbrush to start a project.
“I’ve done quite a bit of automotive work,” Scott said. “I can get a gradient from black to gray to white really fast.”
Scott met Jennifer Randall a “couple of years ago.” He helped her with the first Publik Bike Project, where bicycles were placed in Main Street Hutchinson, giving anyone a chance to ride them where they’d like. The bicycles soon went missing. One ended up in Scott’s yard.
“I live a few miles away from downtown, so I’m not sure how that happened,” he said.
When the idea for the Publik Bike Station came about, Scott was happy to help. By June, Randall and Dan Brizendine hope to open the station in a garage at the back of Fire Station No. 1 at Avenue B and Walnut. There will be seven to 10 bicycles available to check out and ride for free. There will also be parts available at cost for those needing to repair their own bike and a 24-hour air and tool station.
When Randall asked Scott for his help in creating a mural, he was happy to get on board.
It didn’t take Scott long to complete the mural. He started about 5 p.m. Wednesday and worked until 8 p.m. Within an hour Thursday, he was making finishing touches.
“Air brush is really nice,” he aid.
He hopes people will take advantage of the Publik Bike Station, and crosses his fingers that checking out bicycles means more won’t go missing and end up in his yard.
“I hope people can come and enjoy it,” he said. “Get a bike and go see Hutch. Get something to eat and go shopping.”