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Phil Yeh (wearing the hat) helped members of Mountain of Promise paint a portable mural.

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Phil Yeh and Linda Harlan White led the mural-painting program, the first art class for Mountain of Promise since the pandemic.

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Phyllis (foreground) and other members of Mountain of Promise had a great time painting the mural with Phil Yeh.

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Phil Yeh reoutlined the shapes in the mural after the Mountain of Promise artists painted it.

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These two Mountain of Promise artists took great care as they painted the mural.

(Photos: Mountain of Promise)

Local artist helps create a mural

Local artist Phil Yeh, a Running Springs resident, has often been called the “godfather of the modern American graphic novel.” It was in 1977 that he wrote, illustrated and published one of the first modern American graphic novels, Even Cazco Gets the Blues.
Yeh turned his passion for promoting literacy into Cartoonists Across American & the World, which he formed in 1985. Bringing other artists into the program, they have painted more than 2,000 murals in 49 U.S. states and 18 countries.
After applying for and receiving a microgrant from Arts Connection-The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, Yeh looked for an art project he could do on the mountain. He turned to Linda Harlan White – an artist and member of the Mountain Arts Network – who has led art classes with members of Mountain of Promise.
Mountain of Promise is an adult day care program that serves the needs of special needs adults on the mountain. Their art classes had been suspended due to the pandemic.
White was enthusiastic about the prospect of resuming the program and creating a mural with the students and Yeh. She made the arrangements with Mountain of Promise.
As he does with all of his murals – including those on walls at schools, on public walls, portable murals and on vehicles – Yeh outlined the mural. The Mountain of Promise students gathered at Leisure Shores in Crestline and painted it in. After they finished with their painting, Yeh went back over the outlines with black paint.
Each of the Mountain of Promise artists was given a copy of Yeh’s book Winged Tiger Peace Party Puzzle Book, a book of hidden picture paintings.
White plans to frame the mural so Mountain of Promise can display it.
For more about Phil Yeh and his work, visit wingedtiger.com and philyehfineart.com.