DES MOINES, Iowa — Workers, residents, and visitors to Des Moines’ downtown are helping add a little color to the skywalk.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is hosting a unique event called the Spring Skywalk Paint-by-Numbers Mural, where community members can help paint a mural in the downtown skywalk. Molly Atkins, the organization’s events coordinator, said this is their first time arranging an event like this.

They partnered with local artist, Claire Sedovic, who is a children’s book illustrator and art teacher. She also has a studio in Mainframe Studios in Des Moines. She illustrated the design of the mural, as depicted below.

It showcases the Des Moines skyline and within it, there are several iconic symbols of the city. Sedovic graduated from Drake University, she she said some of her favorite designs are the ones that represent the Drake neighborhood.

This is Sedovic’s first mural.

She outlined the drawing onto the wall of the skywalk and hundreds of community members helped filled in the color over the course of two days. Participants signed up for 15-minute painting sessions, but they had the opportunity to sign up for multiple shifts. All materials were provided on sight.

The mural is located at 700 Locust Street, on the third level of the skywalk near Happy Home Coffee. 

Sedovic will now outline the images in the mural with black paint in the weeks to come. Participants can have their names included on the official art information plaque, which will be unveiled when the completed artwork opens to the public. The official unveiling will be announced at a later date.