A True Full-Circle Moment: Artist Brothers Use ChatGPT to Help Create Bonita Canyon’s 50th Anniversary Mural

Shelby and Sandy, two brothers and professional artists, are returning to Bonita Canyon Elementary in Irvine with a meaningful mission: creating a mural to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary.

For the artists, the project is deeply personal. Bonita Canyon is the elementary school they attended as children, and returning to the campus as working artists has made the mural feel especially significant.

“Coming back to our elementary school to create this mural was incredibly meaningful because it’s where so much of our creativity first began,” Shelby said. “Being able to contribute something lasting for the school’s 50th anniversary feels like a true full-circle moment.”

The project was designed as a community effort from the beginning. Current students and faculty shared drawings and ideas that helped inspire the mural’s final design. Shelby and Sandy wanted the finished piece to reflect the imagination of the people who make up the school today, while also honoring the campus that helped shape their own creative paths.

“Making this project a collaboration with the students and faculty made it even more special,” they said. “Their drawings, ideas, and imagination helped inspire the final piece, and we wanted the mural to feel like something created by the entire school community.”

The mural also marks a new step in the artists’ creative process. Shelby and Sandy used ChatGPT and its image-generation tools for the first time to explore concepts before beginning the hand-painted final piece. The technology helped them test visual directions and bring early ideas into focus before paint went on the wall.

“This was also our first time using ChatGPT and its image-generation tools as part of our creative process,” they said. “It was exciting to use a tool that shows how technology can unlock creativity.”

The completed mural was revealed during a ribbon-cutting celebration with students, school leaders, and families.

Join Me at the Costa Mesa Historical Society Speakers Program

I'm honored to be the featured speaker at the Costa Mesa Historical Society's upcoming Speakers Program on Sunday, July 12.

During the presentation, I'll share stories from my book, Born in OC: The Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Visionaries of Orange County, California, and discuss what I've learned from interviewing many of the people who have helped shape Orange County. The book features 50 individuals whose creativity, leadership, and vision have left a lasting impact on our community.

I'll also talk about my journey as the founder and publisher of Greer's OC, the inspiration behind the book, and the importance of preserving local stories for future generations.

Event Details

Sunday, July 12, 2026
2 to 4 p.m.
Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Norma Hertzog Community Center
1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa

Admission is free for Costa Mesa Historical Society members and $15 for non-members. Get tickets, here. 

I hope you'll join me for what promises to be a fun and engaging afternoon celebrating Orange County and the people who make it such a special place.

Books We Loved: Ocean Adventures and an Imaginative Princess

I don't typically review children's books on Greer's OC, but when two beautifully written and illustrated books arrived recently, I couldn't resist sharing them. Better yet, I had the perfect test audience: my grandchildren.

The first, Ocean Superheroes by Gabrielle Raymond McGee, takes kids on an underwater adventure while teaching them about the amazing creatures that help keep our oceans healthy. From tiny plankton to whales, the book introduces young readers to real-life ocean heroes and shows how even small actions can make a difference.

My grandchildren were fascinated by the ocean facts and colorful illustrations, and I loved that they were learning while having fun.

Learn more or order Ocean Superheroes here: ocean-superheroes

The second book, The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven, is a charming classic that is back in print this month. When a gust of wind carries away a handmade paper princess before she's finished, she sets off on an imaginative adventure of her own.

The illustrations are beautiful and full of detail, and the story is sweet, creative and engaging. It sparked plenty of conversation and kept my grandchildren turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Both books were a big hit at our house. If you're looking for something special to read with your children or grandchildren, I highly recommend adding these to your bookshelf.