Drive by the new Great Smokies Welcome Center in Townsend, and you may well do a double-take upon glimpsing what at first appears to be a menagerie of native wildlife bursting from the walls. But these creatures are made of paint, components of a recently completed mural by artist Curtis Glover of Curtis Glover Creative, whose work is known for its hyper-realistic, three-dimensional appearance.
The 410-square-foot space displays such iconic wildlife species as the black bear, red-cheeked salamander, indigo bunting, and pipevine swallowtail butterfly, as well as an array of native plants—trout lily, scarlet beebalm, spring beauty. These images represent only a sliver of the startling biodiversity found within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Glover hopes the mural helps viewers appreciate the vast reservoir of life contained in these mountains.
“In the long run,” he said, “I hope it makes people realize we need to preserve these types of areas and respect the animals that live here and not overdevelop what has been here for millions of years.”
Glover said he’s always “had a knack for art,” but didn’t start painting as a full-time career until 2016. He was working in an art gallery at the time, but after his father passed away, he decided it was time for a change.
“Underutilizing my skill set, I realized that life is unpredictable, and I would regret not taking this risk to see where it could lead me,” he said. “I wanted to pursue a higher expression of art but didn’t know where to start. That whole process has been a constant trial by fire.”
For a muralist, the verdict of each trial sits on display for the public to see, eliciting a range of opinions containing both praise and criticism. Painting a mural is “basically wearing your heart on your sleeve to the general public,” Glover said, but that element of risk is part of what attracts him to the medium.
“For me, it’s about expression while trying to make a living at it,” he said. “That’s the best of both worlds for an occupation, right? Passion quickly morphs into dedicated hard work like any other job, but with murals everyone gets to see the final result on display.”
When Smokies Life began looking for a muralist capable of showcasing the park’s beauty and biodiversity, the “final result” Glover is capable of delivering was already painted throughout East Tennessee. His murals bring life to the walls of establishments ranging from schools and municipal buildings to hotels and restaurants, featuring bright colors and vibrant, realistic renderings that convinced Design Team Manager Karen Key he was the right person for the job.
“Curtis is the true definition of an artist, so I really wanted to give him total creative freedom in what he made for us,” said Key. “We knew that we wanted something to embody the Smokies, and he did just that!”
Before Glover began putting paint on the wall, he and Key met to discuss concepts for the piece. They agreed that the mural should show a variety of species that visitors might see when hiking the park trails—including, of course, a black bear.
“I kind of went overboard with the detail since it’d probably be the focal point for pictures when visitors come to the facility,” said Glover. “I was also thinking in terms of macro versus micro in nature. From the black bear being the apex predator to the red-cheeked salamander and delicate pipevine swallowtail, there is such a variety of species to explore and appreciate.”
Once on site, it took Glover about one month to bring the vivid scene to life using acrylic paints, spray cans, and expertise developed over a lifetime of artistic endeavors. First, he applied a masonry primer coat to give himself a quality painting surface, and then he gridded the layout for accuracy based on the digital mockup. After that, he went to work with his paints, using multiple layers to achieve the depth and detail he’s known for. The initial layers use dark-to-mid tones of acrylic paints to establish a base. Then, he defines structure with the spray cans, which also provide the image with soft transitions, before applying the final coat, a clear UV protectant that preserves and enriches the colors.
“The most challenging aspect of the wall was positioning the lift over the walk ramp to paint in the corners effectively,” he said. “Being in the front of the parking lot, I had to be wary of visitors walking under me while painting.”
However, this public positioning also yielded some of his favorite moments of the process, as people visiting from all over the country approached him to compliment his work. Locals also kept a close eye on the unfolding mural, watching its development from week to week and sharing their stories about moments of connection with the beauty of these mountains.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for what Curtis has created for the Great Smokies Welcome Center, and I believe the visitors agree with me,” said Key. “I hope that when people stop by to see it, they’ll be inspired to seek out nature’s art by watching a bear climb a tree in Cades Cove, catching a glimpse of a red-cheeked salamander in the Little River, or peeping a bleeding heart blooming in the spring.”
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located at 7929 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, offering visitor information as well as parking tags and a selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise for sale. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of November, then 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. December through February.
The Great Smokies Welcome Center is located on U.S. 321 in Townsend, TN, 2 miles from the west entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can get information about things to see and do in and around the national park and shop from a wide selection of books, gifts, and other Smokies merchandise. Daily, weekly, and annual parking tags for the national park are also available.
