Artist: Lacey Hennessey
Hoppin’ GVL
GJ: How were you contacted to create this piece?
LH: The owners were given some of my artwork as a gift when opening their first location in Charlotte, North Carolina, and reached out for potential ideas during construction here in Greenville. What started as one wall quickly led to multiple projects, this piece being the most prominent.
GJ: What is the inspiration for this piece?
LH: The name “Hoppin'” gives reference to hops used in brewing beer, which morphed into a play on animals and insects that hop, found throughout the decor. It was a natural thought to tie in a rabbit giving a nod to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, as well as other recognizable Greenville elements, such as the Liberty Bridge. I wanted the artwork to give off a cool, edgy, urban vibe showing pride with a local Greenville aesthetic.
GJ: What type of paint did you use to create the mural?
LH: Being an indoor mural, I used high-quality Behr Marquee interior paints. Behr offers great sample sizes, allowing wiggle room to purchase a ton of colors, with little waste.
GJ: How long did it take to create and what was the creation process like?
LH: This 6-foot by 9-foot mural took about 22 hours for execution over the course of three days. Construction of the taproom was going on all around me, so I had an occasional audience, which was both motivating and encouraging. My final product always looks slightly more enhanced than the digital rendering because I tend to add extra depth and coloration to my murals towards the end of completion, so I knew the car would be one area to get a little extra focus. Do you spot the grasshopper? That was a fun, added touch to go with the “Hoppin'” theme. I love him.
GJ: What is your favorite part of the piece and why?
LH: I love the rabbit’s vibe. His sweatshirt, ripped jeans [and] fresh sneakers. It’s all part of his look. There’s an iPhone on the hood of the car connected to the headphones in his hand. I often thought about what he was listening to and then played that music while I was painting.
GJ: When was it completed?
LH: December 2019
Located on the second floor at Hoppin’ at Markley Station, 118 N. Markley St., Suite 102 in Greenville.
