Help Artist and Point Loma Native Jim Welch Complete His Mural on Nimitz Off Ramp – GoFundMe Set Up
By Geoff Page
In the midst of all the bad news inundating us these days, it is nice to have something positive to report on once in a while. This brief account is intended to bring some attention, and hopefully some help, to the on-going work of art along the Nimitz to Famosa exit ramp retaining wall.
A bright, colorful, a 150-foot long coastal scene greets drivers to the right as they exit Nimitz to Famosa. It is beautifully done, as the pictures will show. It is the work of one man, Point Loma native Jim Welch.
Welch is doing this mural all on his own, although a few people have stopped and donated money to help pay for paint. It is taking a lot of paint and the mural will not be complete until Welch gets to the end of the 260-foot wall.
The mural starts at the beginning of the tall concrete block wall by the Famosa traffic signal. Welch said he decided to paint a big colorful sign. He painted the words “Point Loma” large and in silver, light blue, and dark blue colors. Below that, in white script he put “Our Place In The Sun.”
Welch said that he just took off after that and kept on painting. To the left of the “Point Loma” sign he put breaking waves, bluffs, and the Point Loma Lighthouse.
The mural continues down the wall with scenes of waves crashing on rocks, beautiful tubes. The scenes seem similar to Chinese painting in detail.
As he worked his way down the wall, Welch went underwater adding a beautifully drawn turtle, a shipwreck, and some of the ocean flora.
Here is a picture of Welch’s “studio.”
The artist is 62, born and raised in Point Loma. He is lean and sinewy with the appearance of a working man. His hands are not delicate artist’s hands but he moved them delicately as he added very small brush strokes to the waves. It was odd to see what looked like a small water color brush being used on this big block wall. It attested to the level of detail Welch put into the mural.
While not a man of great means, Welch had been paying for materials himself until he received some on-site donations. Additionally, Point Loman Kathy Youngberg set up a GoFundMe site to help out.
Hello Point Loma and Ocean Beach neighbors! Over the past year, I’m sure you’ve seen the awe-inspiring mural going up along the Nimitz offramp onto Famosa Blvd.
Jim, an incredible local artist, has been spending his free time and his own money to create this amazing piece of art showcasing the sights and beauty of our neighborhood. He has already spent nearly a thousand dollars on paint, clear coat, and supplies and needs help from our community to continue to fund this gorgeous project.
Please, if you can spare a few dollars, please donate to Jim so he can continue his work and finish this remarkable mural.
This mural is a labor of love. Donate a few dollars and be part of this wonderful addition to our world. Stop by and say hi to the artist.
