New mural going up on Blythe Flowers

Blythe Flowers in Ottawa is getting a bit of a makeover.

A new mural was painted on the side of the building at 1231 La Salle St. and the owners are excited to share their new look.

Tina Davis took ownership of the business in 2016, after working there since age 18, and said the current mural has been on the building for 20 years.

“It’s seen better days and needed a revamp,” Davis said.

Davis said she attempted to contact the original artists to talk about either repainting the mural or painting over it but the organization that painted the mural disbanded over a decade ago and the names on the mural were difficult to read.

Davis reached out to her friend Nick Gjonola, who owns Surface Designs in Polo, Ill., to design a new “floral-themed” mural.

From there, the design creation was up to Gjonola.

“As a designer, I appreciate when people give you free reign to do what you want to do,” Davis said. “It works out best that way.”

The new design will show a woman in front of a blue background with her hair being made up of neon purple, red and yellow flowers. It will also take up the entirety of the building while the previous mural only took up a portion of the side.

Davis said on Friday that Gjonola was making quick work of the mural, which appeared to be near completion over the weekend.