“Corn Cob City”

Colorful mural on the side of a building with the word 'Booneville' in large letters, featuring people, animals, a bicycle, a train, and rural scenery.

Boonville, MO

Commissioned By: Collosians 317 Properties

Square Footage: 2,500

Completed: May 2025

A large, older industrial building with a brick section on the right and a concrete section on the left, with several windows and a door in the concrete part. There are leafless trees in the background and a streetlamp in front. The sky is overcast.

Before

Five Weeks, Two Walls, and a Whole Lot of Small Town Magic

I just wrapped up five whirlwind weeks painting a mural in the heart of Boonville, Missouri—and let me tell you, it was like living inside a small-town scrapbook full of charm, history, and more friendly faces than I could count.The mural stretches across the side of what will soon be a parking structure for new apartments—formerly the old corn cob pipe factory—and is filled with nods to Boonville’s history: the Missouri River, the Katy Bridge, farmland, and yes, even a little tribute to those famous pipes.

I had the best crew by my side. My mom and cousin showed up ready to work—with snacks, support, and serious stamina. My best friend, Laura King, brought the ultimate vibe: hilarious one-liners, perfectly timed jokes, and hands-down the best playlists (we’re talking dance breaks on the scaffolding kind of good). And of course, Tony Sanderford—my boyfriend, co-artist, and partner in paint. Tony is the kind of guy who can sketch a perfect train engine and solve a paint sprayer problem in under five minutes. We tag-teamed the whole thing, our hands always covered in color, often matching by accident, always working in sync. If murals had soundtracks, ours would be laughter, splattered paint, and a lot of “Wait, what if we add this?”

The people of Boonville were the heart of this project. We heard stories about the old factory, tales from the railroad days, and sweet memories of growing up here. Folks brought us coffee, honked as they drove by, and made us feel like part of the town from day one.

In the end, this mural became more than just paint on a wall—it became a celebration of Boonville’s past and future, made possible by a community that welcomed us with open arms and big hearts. I came to create art, but I left with friendships, stories, and a piece of Boonville forever etched in my heart (and on my clothes).

A weathered sign with the logo of Katy Trail State Park, Missouri, attached to a wooden post. The sign is cracked and peeling, indicating age or exposure to the elements, and is located near a street with parked cars and a residential area in the background.
Two women smiling, standing under colorful umbrellas, with a red metal structure and graffiti wall in the background.
Close-up of a happy dog with its mouth open, sitting on green grass in front of a colorful mural and a brick building under a blue sky with some clouds.
Two smiling artists painting a large, colorful mural on a wall outdoors. One is sitting on the ground wearing pink gloves, black clothes, and a baseball cap, holding a paintbrush. The other artist is on a scaffold, wearing a green beanie, black shirt, and has tattoos, also working on the mural.
Two women posing on scaffolding in front of a colorful mural. One woman is sitting on the top of the scaffolding wearing a bright yellow beanie and patterned clothing. The other woman is sitting on the lower part, resting her chin on her hand, wearing a tie-dye sweatshirt. The mural behind them features vibrant flowers and a blue furry creature.
Three women standing outdoors near a construction site with a sign that reads 'MURAL IN PROGRESS! daniromacreates'. The women are smiling, wearing casual clothes including hats, and are standing on a paved surface with trees and a building in the background.
A man in a wheelchair painting a colorful mural on a brick wall. He wears a pink beanie, a tie-dye hoodie, and pink gloves while holding a paintbrush and smiling with his eyes closed.
Green painted brick wall with black stencil text reading 'Special Thanks Laura King Crystal Fleming Liz Norman' and ground with small rocks and dirt.
A female artist with tattoos and a neon green beanie painting a large mural on a green brick wall, using a brush while standing on scaffolding.
A woman sitting on the ground, painting a mural on a brick wall with green, purple, and yellow colors. She is smiling, wearing a black shirt, purple glove on her left hand, pink glove on her right hand, and a purple cap. There is a red scaffold close by and painting supplies visible in the background.
A sidewalk with white painted graffiti that appears to spell out 'SOU' with the letter 'U' stylized as a smiley face, near a building with a brick wall and a metal door frame.
Woman with a braided hair, wearing a neon green beanie with a cartoon face, sticking out her tongue with a green tip, smiling outdoors against a partly cloudy sky and trees.
Nighttime outdoor scene of a building with a partially painted mural on the wall, scaffolding in front of it, and a bright spotlight shining in the background. There is a shovel on the ground and some assorted materials nearby.
A colorful mural of an elderly man with glasses and a hat, sitting in a chair, smoking a pipe, and drinking from a white mug, with a field and trees in the background.
A colorful mural on a wall depicting two people riding bikes and a large, detailed dog with purple and gray fur. The background shows green hills and a blue sky. The artists' signatures and social media handles are visible at the bottom left of the m
Colorful street art mural of a smiling dog with large ears painted on a brick and concrete wall.
Colorful mural painting of a man and woman jogging outdoors, with scenic background of hills, trees, clouds, and purple flowers.
Colorful mural on the side of a building depicting a rural scene with a church, a person riding a bicycle, another person riding a bike, and an elderly man smoking a pipe, with fields and hills in the background.
A colorful mural with the word 'BOONVILLE' in large letters on the side of a building, featuring illustrations of trees, a bridge, houses, corn, and people.
Colorful mural depicting two women, one older and one younger, walking a dog while fishing. The background includes abstract shapes and bright colors.