Interview and translation by Ignacio Alvarado
Many murals cover northwest Oklahoma ranging from realism to abstract; in Enid alone, we have over 40 murals to boast.
Three local muralists have had a special impact on the art scene in Enid.
Ty and Kelly Tompkins of Hive Appeal and Tox Murillo have painted more large-scale murals in Enid than anyone else, with over 30 public murals completed between the three of them.
Kelly has been involved in many public art ventures here in Enid, said Rob Houston, Director of Visit Enid. She has been instrumental in documenting local works of art.
The Tompkins and Murillo have done murals around the area and state as well.
Hive Appeal’s style is bold, graphic, bright, colorful, with clean lines, stylized or somewhat abstract. Their vibrant murals off of busy streets around town are filled with organic and geometric shapes.
Tox’s style is versatile. He does caricatures, realism, urban style, and landscapes, but he said he doesn’t have a specific style. You can easily spot one of Tox’s murals around town – detailed, bursting with color, crisp and fresh.
Tox Murillo
Spray Can and iPad in hand, topped with a hat, Tox Murillo can be found creating realistic murals of people, characters, animals, war scenes, and landscapes.
Tox calls Enid home today, but his roots lie in L.A., where he was born, and in Guadalajara, Mex., where he was raised and educated in art.
However, art isn’t what brought Tox to Oklahoma. He didn’t have plans to make a living from painting. For Tox, art is very personal. His roots are in graffiti. When you do graffiti, it’s more personal and expressive of the person doing it, he said.
“Once I was here, I started doing personalized paintings on motorcycles and cars for car shows,” Tox said. “It was there that the idea of trying graffiti again came to me, but in a more public way, so that I could make a living from it and give myself to the community.”
Tox’s second mural in Enid, the 80s Pop Culture mural, in the alley of Harmon’s Electric is what opened the doors for him to keep painting in Enid, he said.
Looking at one of Tox’s murals, it is shocking to find out that Tox’s primary medium is spray paint. The paintings are extremely detailed, with beautiful gradients and shading that boast a grandeur of talent.
On a mural surface, in preparation, Tox creates a cryptic grid pattern, then usually free handing the rest, while glancing at his rendering.
“The materials I use are varied, depending on the size of the mural or any details it may have,” said Tox. “If there are large details, I use a paint gun to quickly cover the base and create a broader blend. I also use spray cans for details. If the details in the drawing are very small, I use an airbrush. It has been one of my main tools since I started doing graffiti when I was young. So, throughout the years, I have used a combination of spray cans, airbrushes, and pencils.
Tox sketches out his preliminary designs on paper with a pencil or in the ProCreate app.
Like many artists, Tox doesn’t have a favorite piece of his. They are all his favorites, he said.
“Art is subjective, and it depends a lot on your mood,” Tox said. “I can say that today I like one, and tomorrow I can say I like another one more because a mural may remind me of something that happened or something another project taught me. I love them as if they were part of me, my history, and my thoughts.”
Behind each of Tox’s projects is a true passion for painting, with each air stroke taking him to new places and creating things for people to enjoy.
Tox believes that public art creates a friendlier atmosphere, attracting family, friends, and customers. When you add color to a blank wall, it breathes life into a place, he said.
“Art brings a significant contribution to any place or community, for both tourism and for enjoyment,” he said.
Many of Tox’s works have been done recently and haven’t all been documented yet. Tox’s most current works can be found on Instagram and on Facebook under “Tox M”
- 80s Pop Culture at the Harmon’s Electric (in the alley), 612 Independence
- Cheech and Chong + Friday Characters at Haze Dispensary, 1520 N. Grand
- Jim Morrison at Harmon Electric, 612 Independence
- Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima at Kemph Heating and Air, 518 N. Grand
- Recent paintings at Delta Nine Dispensary 602 N. Grand Ave and the new Natural Remedies location (near Stride Bank)
- Woodring memorial murals
- Heydy’s Place at 616 W. Owen K. Garriott
- Murals in OKC, Ponca City, Yukon, Alva, and Ringwood
- Work in art galleries and immersive art exhibits
“I feel good here, and I represent Enid, even on the mural I just did on the Plaza Walls in OKC. I said I was from Enid. I feel like I want to leave my signature where people can see it. I don’t have the feeling of wanting to see my work in Mexico or Europe. I just want to put my signature where people can appreciate and admire my work. That’s what’s important to me.”
Kelly and Ty Tompkins – Hive Appeal
In their 30 years together, the Tompkins have always been working together in the creative sphere and beyond. The spouse team has produced over 20 murals together, but that is only the beginning.
Hive Appeal’s beautiful and bright murals have a distinct, uplifting spirit about them. Kelly said they have several favorite colors to use when they paint, which make happy color combinations.
“We paint murals in this style so we can both paint and let others paint pieces and be part of it,” said Kelly Tompkins, co-owner of Hive Appeal. “It creates a connection and a sense of ownership. It’s fun to be part of a large project, and we love to have paint time with the public, board members, and/or employees of a business or organization.”
Their murals are designed in Adobe Photoshop to create renderings, then they later use a projector to help them follow the design on the mural’s surface.
“Some are drawn with a grid, and some are freehanded or drawn with string, wire, and measurements,” said Tompkins. “I love math, and I get to use math with our murals! We have found our favorite paint colors, brushes, and ways to keep track of it all.”
Kelly was formerly the Director of Main Street Enid, a multi-faceted organization that allowed her to do and learn more than she could have imagined.
She learned to infuse arts into community building by trying things and watching the reactions, said Kelly. Kelly first began with murals she did alone, before moving on.
Nearly every town wonders how to keep young people and how to attract a workforce. In order to attract young or creative people, your community has to look like it welcomes them, said Kelly.
And Enid has learned, over the years, that public art is important. With nearly 70 pieces of public art of varying forms in Enid boasting color and talent around town and beyond.
The arts of all kinds add to quality of life, a sense of place, and community pride, said Kelly.
“Through Main Street, I also learned how art can also improve public health (by making places more interesting to walk or bike around) and public safety (with more eyes on the street). The arts add to community involvement and connection, and photos on social media are natural promotion for our city. Public art is good for business and plays a part in economic development.”
Ty’s favorite piece is Beauty of Community at Park Avenue Thrift.
“It was quite a challenge due to its rounded shape, but it was also fun, said Ty. “It’s my favorite because it’s so colorful and right at an entrance to Downtown. It has so much meaning because of how much Park Avenue does for the community!”
Kelly said she loves how their most recent piece is more abstract, leading people to see amazing things in it she didn’t think of.
“My favorite is usually the most recent one, so it always changes,” said Kelly. “But overall, my 3 favorites are Beauty of Community at Park Avenue Thrift, the Indian Blanket Flower on Route 66 in Sapulpa (both of our largest and most challenging murals) and Bee the Sunshine at Hayes Elementary School.
(Bee the sunshine is a multi-level metal sculpture that we designed and painted as a tribute to Titus Kennedy, a 5.5-year-old student who passed away from an accident. Wesley Spencer with SpenCo Metal Works did an amazing job building and installing it, and everyone involved in that project was wonderful to work with.)
“We have a few murals lined up, and we’re so excited to design creative seating, bike racks, and various items for businesses, communities, parks, downtowns, and trails!”
While Kelly has done a few murals on her own, the Tompkins’ business, Hive Appeal, has provided another opportunity for them to work on a creative venture together.
“Ty and I love working together! We have worked together for most of our 30 years together in many different ways,” said Kelly.
“In the mid-1990’s, we worked at the same print shop during the day, then worked at the same jewelry shop on evenings and weekends. We’ve had various small businesses together, we were a real estate team, he was my volunteer non-employee at Main Street, and I help him behind the scenes in whatever he does. We work better together, and he’s my favorite person to be around! He makes almost every situation hilarious. And he puts up with me.”
List of murals:
- David’s Doodles at the Ezzell Workshop (building and mural now demolished)
324 E Randolph, Enid, OK 73701
August, 2018 - Oklahoma Phoenix at Atelier
339 E Maple, Enid, OK 73701,
August 2019 - New Day on the Old Trail at Big Country Meat Market
606 W Willow, Enid, OK 73701
October, 2019 - You Can at AE Howard Flooring
4810 W Garriott, Enid, OK 73703
November, 2019 - Play Takes Flight at Universal Management & Maintenance
201 N Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703
March, 2020 - Dragonfly in Paradise at Edward Jones – Jenna Rosine’s office
225 W Maple, Enid, OK 73701
April, 2020 - Feeding Our Neighbors at Loaves & Fishes
701 E Maine, Enid, OK 73701
June, 2020 - Jeans N’ Roses at Kustom Kreations & Eagle Heritage Roofing
2219 N Grand, Enid, OK 73701
July, 2020 - Waves of Change INSIDE City of Enid Communications
203 W Garriott, Enid, OK 73701
August, 2020 - Flanders Flowers at Unique Designs
1814 N Grand, Enid, OK 73701
September, 2020 - Going Places INSIDE K/H Financial
222 E Maple, Enid, OK 73701
February, 2021 - Love for All Seasons at Enid Floral & Gifts
1123 S Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703
March, 2021 - Sapulpa Indian Blanket at Reynolds Park on Route 66
1069 U.S. Rte 66, Sapulpa, OK 74066
May, 2021 - Grillin’ Together at Big Country Meat Market
606 W Willow, Enid, OK 73701
July, 2021 - There’s Fun to be Done at Pleasant-Vale Elementary
6020 E Willow Rd, Enid, OK 73701
September, 2021 - Canola & Friends at Alva Farmers Coop Farm Supply Store
401 Barnes Ave, Alva, OK 73717
September, 2021 - Sombria INSIDE Sombria Chocolate Company
104 N Independence, Enid, OK 73701
July, 2022 - Community Hive in Adventure Quest at Leonardo’s Children’s Museum
200 E Maple, Enid, OK 73701
September, 2022 - Healing Garden at INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center
600 S Monroe, Enid, OK 73701
December, 2022 - Beauty of Community at Park Avenue Thrift
507 S Grand, Enid, OK 73701
June, 2023 - Bee the Sunshine at Hayes Elementary School
(Multi-level metal sculpture built by SpenCo Metal Works, designed and painted by us)
2102 Beverly Dr, Enid, OK 73703
August, 2023 - (Plus a few indoor designs that add to the atmosphere inside Park Avenue Thrift, Pleasant-Vale Elementary, and the YWCA.)
- Caterpillar, Chrysalis Circles, and Butterfly (the butterfly is in progress)
- Enid Walking Trail just east of Parkway
- (Metal sculptures built by EH Metal Works, designed and painted by us)
September, 2023
