When Blake Bloodworth ’10 was invited back to Colene Hoose Elementary in Normal with an opportunity to paint a mural and speak to Laura Newton’s fourth-grade class, the opportunity was too special for him to pass up. 

Bloodworth, an Illinois State University School of Communication graduate, is now an artist based in Houston.

“It’s just a really, really cool thing,“ Bloodworth said. “A full circle moment.”

Bloodworth, who grew up in Normal and attended Colene Hoose, said he was proud to leave his mark on the school that helped shape who he is today. 

“To be able to paint this mural and speak to the students, in the same building and the same gym that I grew up going to, from a time in my life where art was so important to me—it’s a really special thing.” 

Newton ’22, who invited Bloodworth to speak to her class, said the impact of having an artist inspire her students was profound.

“It was super cool for my students to see an artist creating art, especially for the students who are very creative,” Newton said. “Having the students watch him sketch it out—they were super intrigued. It was awesome.”

Bloodworth designed and painted the 5-square-foot mural in Colene Hoose’s North Gym during May 2024. He incorporated the Colene Hoose Hawk logo encircled by illustrations that reminded Bloodworth of his time in elementary school, the place he developed a passion for art.

“I always liked art when I was a kid. I was just drawn to it. Comics, TV show cartoons, even sports team logos—I would draw all of those things,” Bloodworth said.

Bloodworth’s love for pop culture, the 1990s, and sports have influenced his palette into four “nostalgic-meets-obscurism” murals that he’s painted across the Houston area. Bloodworth, who works for State Farm, also coordinates pop-up art exhibits that showcase local and national artists.

These murals caught the attention of Newton whose fiance is friends with Bloodworth. Seeing Bloodworth’s work prompted her to invite him to speak to her class and create the mural. 

As a student at Coleen Hoose, Bloodworth recalls when student artist and Illinois State University men’s basketball student-athlete Kenneth Pierson ’20 visited his classroom and inspired him to look at art in a more creative way.

Pierson, who now also lives in Houston, works as a freelance artist and leads a construction team. Bloodworth and Pierson, who reconnected when Bloodworth moved to Houston in 2017, maintain a close friendship, even collaborating on art projects.

Bloodworth credits his time as a student at Colene Hoose for fostering his creativity and the freedom to create art. 

“It was a time where I think art was the most free for me—when you’re a kid and you feel you’re most creative,” Bloodworth said. 

Newton said she’s thankful for Bloodworth’s willingness to give back to his elementary alma mater.

“It’s pretty wholesome to me,” Newton said. “It is incredibly cool to have him come back and showcase his talents.” 

Bloodworth’s advice to aspiring young artists is to be confident in approaching potential clients with ideas and to celebrate the “wins,” both big and small. 

“Even if contributing a piece to a small show, that’s a win,” Bloodworth said. “Maybe you do a smaller mural that could lead to a larger mural or event. But make sure that you’re constantly putting yourself out there and promoting yourself and seeing what is possible. 

By creating art at his childhood elementary school, Bloodworth is making an impact, just like how Pierson inspired him two decades ago.

That’s a win worth celebrating.

Tyler Mardis is a photographer at Illinois State University.