by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Sara Heppner-Waldston

Age: 43

Occupation: Mural artist

Bio: This delightfully spunky Hampstead broad had been working as a graphic designer for most of her life before discovering she "just wasn't satisfied creatively anymore - everything was starting to be done by computers and I simply wasn't interested." So, after taking a course in decorative painting, Sara decided it was time to pursue a new artistic direction and began painting "environments" via wall murals, usually for children's bedrooms, but also for the occasional commercial employer like the good folk at Bell Canada. "There's truly something magical about a child's room after it's been painted." To get in touch with her visit www.painter-girl.com.

How long it generally takes her to turn a kid's room into a magical wonderland: Three to four weeks. "What I end up doing often depends on the character of the house and the kids. As I learn more about them I'll put things in that mean something to them."

Is it primarily "ghetto" children having their bedrooms made magical? Not exactly. "Sometimes, I'm telling you, I look at some of these rooms when I'm done and I think, ‘Man, these kids are so lucky.' They close their door and they're in another world. Be it a Harry Potter theme or whatever."

Is she ever tempted, when painting a child's bedroom, to plant subliminal demons and the like into the mural, just to make sure these kids learn to fear God at an early age? "No, I never thought of that. But it's been hard on the few occasions where I've worked on the room of some totally spoiled kid who has absolutely no idea how privileged they are to be getting this magical space created for them. But you get around it."

What it'll run you to have an environment created by Sara: Anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500.

Her materials: Latex, acrylic and craft paints.

Her preferred brand of house paint: "Benjamin Moore, but I also really like the Rona paints."

Does she regularly have creative struggles with clients who want her to paint bunnies on their walls when she feels a re-creation of the Sistine Chapel might be more in order? "No, there's always a creative solution. And for the most part my clients have been fantastic, totally appreciative of what I do, interactive, letting me be creative and having faith [in my vision]."

Something she shares with many other creative types: A fear she is a total fraud - until she actually starts working and remembers finally, "Oh yeah, I guess I am pretty good at this."

Might she find herself devastated to return to one of her murals only to see it covered by a coat of eggshell white? "Well, it's yet to happen, but if the room has been lived in and enjoyed, then, you know, I understand these things are not going to last forever. I'm better at detaching myself from [my work] as time goes on."

Musical preferences: Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones.

Last book read: Life of Pi, by Yann Martel.

Words of wisdom: "Go for it. You've got one chance, one life to live, make it worthwhile."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca