by KENYA SMITH/INTERN
kenya.smith@tidewaternews.com

FRANKLIN
Travelers driving on Route 258 are already noticing a more colorful welcome sign as they enter downtown Franklin. The Downtown Franklin Association has added another mural in town, and this time, it is featured on the Park ‘N’ Shop convenience store on East Second Avenue.

Richmond residents Ross Trimmer and Emily Herr are the artists behind the art. Trimmer owns Surehand Signs and Herr owns HerrSuite Murals. They both attended Virginia Commonwealth University where Trimmer studied painting and printmaking and Herr studied communication arts.

“The association wanted us to paint a mural that celebrates Downtown Franklin,” Trimmer said, “What we’re working on will be like a gateway mural because that will be the first thing drivers see as they enter Downtown Franklin.”

This isn’t Trimmer’s first time painting a mural in downtown Franklin. Last year, he also contributed his artistic skills to create the LOVE mural that is located on the side of the Floor to Ceiling building on Second Avenue. The mural promoted the “Virginia is for Lovers” campaign as a means to boost travel and tourism.

In contrast to the LOVE mural, the new design will give drivers plenty of time to marvel as they can see it at quite a distance coming over the bridge. The artists, who finished their work by Wednesday, hope that the mural will be eye-catching to the public.