Walking into the Hearthstone Country Club, guests are greeted by a burst of color and creativity, a mural brought to life by Cypress Falls High School students. The project, a collaboration between the art program and the club, highlights both the energy and the community spirit that define the space.
Ms. Heather Mix, the art instructor overseeing the project, said the inspiration for the mural came from the club itself.
“The theme and imagery of the mural were inspired directly by the vision shared by my contact at HCC,” Mix said. “They requested that the wall prominently feature the name ‘The Tourn’ while symbolically representing the club’s key amenities and atmosphere. We incorporated visual elements that highlight golf, tennis, racquetball, pickleball, fitness, and cocktails with music to reflect both the athletic and social experiences the club offers.”
The location of the mural played a significant role in shaping its design.
“It’s a place where members stop for water between rounds of golf or tennis and where the space transitions into semi-outdoor seating with a bar and occasional live music,” Mix said. “Because of this, the design reflects both the active and social aspects of the club, creating a visual representation of the energy, recreation, and hospitality that define the space.”
The seven students involved— junior Hillary Martinez and seniors Zariah Cox,Zoobia Farooqi , Denzel Garcia , Dionne Monreal , Nyjai Nevels , and Lavanya Shringarpure —worked collaboratively from initial sketches to the finished wall. Mix described the students’ level of creative involvement as substantial.
“Each began by developing original sketch concepts, and the final design and color scheme were selected from their submissions,” Mix said. “Responsibilities were divided based on individual strengths. Students with steady hands completed the final line work and lettering, while others focused on blocking in color and values.”
For Monreal, who contributed the mural’s color scheme, the project offered a mix of challenge and accomplishment.
“I was relieved when I saw it completed because I truly didn’t think we were going to finish on time,” Monreal said. “It was nice seeing it all come together, albeit a little rushed, but overall, it came out well. The colors were really nice, and the composition was good.”
Monreal also reflected on the collaborative aspect of the project.
“The hardest part was working with so many people on one thing because we kind of had to dance around each other,” Monreal said. “But the colors and the overall concept tied everything together and made it cohesive.”
Mix highlighted the professional growth she witnessed in her students.
“Artistically, they strengthened their skills in problem-solving, especially with color matching and adapting designs to a large surface,” Mix said. “As collaborators, they learned to recognize and rely on each other’s strengths, working as a cohesive team to successfully complete the project. Seeing their pride in the final moment made the entire process incredibly rewarding.”
The mural, which took about five months from planning to execution, gave the students a real-world opportunity to see their art in a public space.
“It’s incredibly important for student artwork to exist in public spaces because it gives emerging artists a real voice,” Mix said. “Public display validates their hard work, inspires confidence, and shows the community the value of young voices in shaping visual culture.”
With their names signed on the bottom right corner of the mural, the students leave a lasting mark at Hearthstone Country Club and a memory of collaboration and creativity.
“It symbolized not only their individual effort, but also their unity as a team and their connection to the school and community,” Mix said.
For the Cypress Falls students, the project was more than painting, it was a lesson in teamwork, creativity, and leaving a tangible mark on the world
