Ghost Sign Revival in Downtown Plano

There’s something magical about bringing old walls back to life, especially when they’ve been quietly holding stories for nearly a century.

I just wrapped up a ghost sign restoration in Downtown Plano, and while there were no birds involved this time, this project still stole my heart. The mural is located on the back of the Coco Beach Plano building, which once housed the Western Auto Store and, even earlier, the First National Bank.

Thanks to the team at @downtownplano, I was brought in to carefully refresh the faded signage, the goal was to make it new, but not too new. The kind of restoration that respects the past while gently reminding people it's still here.

These types of murals—called ghost signs—are old advertisements or business signs that were painted directly onto the brick and left to fade over time. Rather than painting over them or replacing them with something modern, cities are starting to see the value in reviving them. And I love that. Ghost signs are like architectural whispers from the past, and I’m always honored to help them speak a little louder again.

🧱 Behind the Scenes

It was definitely a scorcher out there! Huge shoutout to @lockhartsmokehouse for the brisket and ice-cold water, and to @1418coffee for keeping me hydrated with endless water. And of course, a massive thank you to @vondidart2 for assisting and helping bring this mural back to life.

📍 Stop By and See It

Next time you’re in Downtown Plano, swing by Sutton Place Furniture and check out the ghost sign on the back of the building. You’ll see the freshly restored Western Auto logo, standing proud once again, weathered, bold, and rooted in history.

These projects remind me that not all murals have to be flashy or brand new.

Sometimes, honoring the layers of time is the most powerful thing you can do with paint.

A Garden for Olivia: Honoring a Beautiful Life Through Art

A Mural for Olivia Helton by Andrea Holmes

Some projects stay with you forever. This one is one of them.

When the Helton family reached out to me, I was immediately moved by their story. Their daughter, Olivia, was a bright, nature-loving little girl who found so much joy in the simple beauty of life—playing in the garden, feeding the animals, picking okra, and dreaming of making her garden even bigger. After Olivia passed away in December from leukemia, her family set out to make that dream a reality.

They expanded the garden just as Olivia had always envisioned. But they wanted to do more—something lasting, something that reflected her spirit, her joy, and the way she made their home feel so full of life.

Together, we created a mural on the side of their home that now overlooks her garden. It’s a vibrant, personal tribute filled with all the things Olivia loved: flowers, fruits, vegetables, plants, butterflies, birds, and tiny details that whisper her memory into every corner.

This wasn’t just about painting a wall, it was about storytelling, healing, and honoring the legacy of a little girl who filled the world around her with color and wonder.

I poured my heart into this mural, working closely with the family to make sure every element felt right. We talked about her favorite colors, her favorite animals, and the peaceful joy she felt being in the garden. The final result is a mural that doesn’t just decorate the space, it belongs to it. It feels like Olivia.

I’m deeply honored to have been trusted with such a meaningful project. Thank you, Helton family, for inviting me into your story and allowing me to help celebrate Olivia’s life in such a personal, permanent way. Her spirit truly lives on in that garden, and now, on the walls of the home she loved.

My First International Mural! 5/100

Wings Across the World Mural #5

While in Vienna this summer for a portrait painting workshop, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to leave a mark on the city in the most Andrea way possible...with a mural, of course.

I found the perfect wall tucked along the Donaukanal, a vibrant urban stretch where graffiti and street art are welcomed as part of the city's culture. It’s a place where artists from all over the world leave their mark, and I was honored to join that creative conversation.

This mural became #5 in my 100 Bird Murals: Wings Across the World project, and I wanted it to be a love letter to both the local landscape and the artistic heritage of Vienna.

🎨 The Design: Where Nature Meets Art History

I painted Austria’s national bird—the Barn Swallow, known for its agility, grace, and long migratory journeys. It felt symbolic, not just as a nod to my “Wings Across the World” theme, but also to the idea of artists traveling, learning, and connecting across borders.

Alongside the bird, I painted a woman in the style of Gustav Klimt, one of Vienna’s most iconic artists. Klimt’s work has always spoken to me, the patterns, the gold, the emotion. This was my way of acknowledging Vienna’s deep artistic legacy while layering in my own.

Together, the bird and the Klimt-inspired figure represent movement, beauty, and the bridging of old and new.

🌍 A Global Mission

This mural is part of my goal to paint 100 bird-themed murals - 10 in Texas, one in every U.S. state, and 41 more across the globe. The project is called Wings Across the World, and it's about more than birds. It’s about community, transformation, and turning blank walls into landmarks of joy and meaning.

Vienna is now one of those places, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

🧭 Location:

Donaukanal, Vienna, Austria

✨ Thank You

Thank you to the city of Vienna, the street art community along the Donaukanal, and all the curious passersby who stopped to watch and share kind words. And thank you to the incredible students and teacher from my painting workshop who inspired me just as much as the city itself did.

This mural was painted without permission, but with care, respect, and deep love for the space. Street art has a beautiful way of existing on borrowed time. I hope this piece brings a little wonder to everyone who sees it while it's still up.