Charles Houska started the Houskaballoo Project six years ago to encourage young people to do more art and to think about creating on a larger scale. The projects are generally a large, coloring-book type of mural featuring various casts of characters that Houska will draw on canvas, wood, walls - or even a bus. He has painted a Springfield Transit Bus with the students at Springfield High School in Springfield, Illinois, and the Arts in Transit of St. Louis commissioned a bus we painted with the public.

Overview: The standard project is usually on a canvas (4'x15') with various ways of hanging available.  The event lasts about 4 hours with different small groups of students painting the mural in 10 - 15 minute time periods.

Cost: 1450.00 Includes, Charles' time and transportation, the C.H. Coloring Page (to be Xeroxed for every student), a 4' x 15' canvas (supplied by sponsor) - primed and prepped with the outline of the design specifically intended for your school.  After the students complete the project and the work has a day or so to dry, Charles completes the final step of painting the black outline.

School Provides: Teachers, parents and volunteers to assist with the students.  Acrylic paint -quart size up to 12 colors (to be discussed in detail), buttercup type containers with lids, paintbrushes ¼” & ½” flat tip. Copies of the coloring page, crayons, markers, and color pencils for the students to use on the coloring page, clean- up and installation of the mural.

Time: The project generally runs about 2 - 4 hours. (1-2 before lunch and 1-2 after lunch, very flexible on schedule, whatever works best.)  Depending on amount of students participating, we like to divide them into groups of (12) and provide shifts for each group to work on the mural.  While some students are painting the others talk with Charles and can work on the coloring page.

Attire: Students should wear work clothes or smocks during the project.  Their clothes will most likely get paint on them.

Optional T-Shirt Design:  Some schools like to have a special t-shirt designed for the project.  The sales used for fund raising etc.  Cost is 475.00 for the design, sponsor supplies the actual t-shirt and printing costs.  (Details & further information on request).