Most paint-by-number pieces come in a box and fit on a kitchen table, but Ronan’s community paint-by-number mural spans the west side of Evolve Fitness (formerly Twice but Nice) on Third Street West in Ronan.

The project is the brainchild of Katie Jo Elliott, a member of the Ronan Revitalization Committee, who took the idea to area artists and teachers Cameron and Aspen Decker. The Decker duo sketched out the scene of a buffalo family in a meadow with a river nearby. The duo also created and painted half of the giant mural on Fourth St. on the wall of the former MME building.

School children were invited to paint on Friday, and the public was invited to Community Paint Days on Saturday and Sunday. All ages, from littlest to not-so-young, wielded paintbrushes (or smeared a little paint on their parents). All told, Elliott estimates between 250 and 300 people participated.

“I wanted something that would bring the whole community together so they could take ownership,” she said.

The Deckers acquired the paint from Ace Hardware — a kaleidoscope of greens, pinks, yellows, and browns (the latter largely reserved for the buffalo and calves). The crew put numbers corresponding to the numbered spaces on the murals, filled cups with colored paint, handed out cups and brushes, and gave tutorials.

“I’m excited to continue these murals,” Aspen said. “I want to do more of them.”

In each part of this mural, rose hips, xwxuypexp as Aspen calls them in Salish, figure prominently. The flowers signal “the time to hunt buffalo,” Aspen explained.

She and Cameron honor Salish culture and language and celebrate a connection to the land in all their projects.

Brixley, a blonde sprite wearing her t-ball shirt, carefully painted grass for the buffalo to walk on and eat. Laila, an eighth grader, deftly outlined the center of a wild rose. The Asencio sisters, Bonnie and Gena, took turns sitting in the chair they brought.

Mayor Ryan Corum brought his daughter, who loves to paint; together they worked on a buffalo calf. And that’s just a sprinkling of the Ronanians who contributed after watching the preparations take place.

One potential glitch was the weather forecast, which didn’t look good for the weekend painting soiree. Elliott called Eric Huffine, who owns Evolve Fitness, to ask for advice. “Give me an hour,” he said.

The next morning, workers from his business, Wall and Slab, were putting up a sturdy plastic “cave” to shelter the painters and artwork.

Elliott says the two murals were largely funded through a $1.5 million Pilot Community Tourism Grant. The first round of mural funding totaled $35,000, with $30,000 from the tourism grant and an additional $5,000 from the Ronan Chamber as part of a bequest from the estate of the late Theresa Walter.

Elliott is applying for funds for a third mural.

She expressed “many thanks” to the Deckers for their creativity, Huffine and his “MacGyvering,” all the painters, St-Char-Ro for loaning cement barrels to keep the paint cave and pop-up tent safe, the Pedal-to-Plate organizers who brought a pop-up tent, Flathead Valley Food Truck, and members of the Ronan Revitalization Committee.

“We are such a great community,” Elliott said. “I am so proud of these projects.”

    Young artist adds grass to Ronan's latest mural project during Community Paint Days. (Courtesy photo)
  

    Aspen Decker sketches the design for a community mural on the west side of Evolve Fitness (formerly Twice but Nice) on Third Street West in Ronan. School kids and community members added color last weekend during Community Paint Days. (Courtesy photo)