Marshall County artist finds love of painting school walls

ALBERTVILLE, AL (WAFF) - Schools are trading in their solid color walls for something more vivid.

Donald Walker gave up his sign business to make school walls exciting.

“You know when you’re sitting in math class and you’re supposed to be doing math and you’re drawing pictures of the teachers,” said Walker.

That’s when Donald Walker knew he wanted to be an artist when he grew up. He just never knew he was going to come back as an adult and transform school walls.

Albertville elementary is probably his biggest project so far. Here, the school is divided into communities such as the Aggie Book Club, Leadership Academy, and Adventure Academy.

“So it brings kids from different grade levels together under one community,” said Walker.

Walker's walls come alive and it all starts with a theme.

“I always tell teachers and administrators when I go meet with them the first time that I like to sit down and get all their input and ideas and then I just paint whatever I want,” said Walker.

The school has found a way to get local businesses to sponsor a painting to help pay for it.

Walker gave up his sign business after twenty years and has done this for the last twelve and has gotten quite good at it.

“I’m used to it now. I think I could paint on a gravel driveway at this point,” said Walker.

Walker goes from job to job like many artists, just hoping to make a living until he dies doing what he loves.

“You just trust God to keep sending work your way and keep doing good work and so far that’s been the right formula,” said Walker.

Albertville Elementary Principal Mona Sheets says Walker is approximately 75 percent complete at the school and they’re continuing to look for more businesses who can help finish the school project.

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