DuBOIS — Patrons passing through downtown DuBois may have recently noticed renowned longtime artists Perry Winkler and Harlan Beagley working on a mural that they call “a celebration of downtown DuBois.”

The local artists are currently in phase one of the mural project, located on the corner of North Brady Street and Scribner Avenue near the DuBois City Police station.

Winkler, founder of Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in DuBois, said the layout for this project started last summer, and they applied for grants and acquired donations for materials.

Beagley explained that the first phase of the two-part mural depicts himself painting Winkler, as Winkler paints the carousel figure that is shown. Also shown is the wall peeling back to display some of Dr. Jeffrey Rice’s carousel figures, which are on display at Winkler Gallery. Rice owns the building that houses the mural.

Winkler and Beagley said the full wall mural will showcase things like the DuBois Farmers Market and produce, a unique collection of carousel animals, “fun people,” etc.

This project adds to the beautification of downtown DuBois, the men said, and celebrates all that the area has to offer. Beagley said he believes artists should have a positive impact on their community, and vice versa.

In addition, they will be attaching a QR code for the public to donate funds for paint and supplies to complete the entire wall of the building next spring. The goal is to complete phase one before winter weather arrives. The gallery is also always accepting donations.

Winkler’s artwork has earned him numerous awards over the years. He also teaches watercolor technique classes at DuBois area schools, and offers workshops/classes at the art studio downtown, according to the Winkler Gallery website. Winkler dedicates much of his time as the gallery manager, which represents successful artists in the region.

Beagley, Winkler Gallery of Fine Art board president and American artist specializing in photorealism impressionism, was formerly a pictorialist billboard artist in Las Vegas, Nevada, having worked for Siegfried and Roy, Caesar’s Palace, Steve Winn and others, according to his bio. His murals and paintings were featured on the Las Vegas strip. Beagley moved to the area in 2015, currently residing in Treasure Lake, and is a portrait and landscape artist using acrylics and fine oil paint.

Beagley’s work can be found at several local venues, including 12-foot-high Marilyn Monroe and Taylor Swift portraits and other artwork at Doolittle Station, as well as artwork on the walls of the El Gordo Burro and Kome restaurants downtown. He recently completed murals for Luigi’s Ristorante, featuring several family portraits of the Luigi’s family, painted to look like windows along the side of the building on North Brady Street.

For more information on the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art, visit winklergallery.wordpress.com or the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/winklergallery.org.