Another in the 2010 updates on Viva Cuba mural artists…

Julie Nixon Krovicka painted her father's image on the Millworks mural

Julie Nixon Krovicka painted her father's image on the Millworks mural. Francis Nixon was a long-time worker at the Millworks.

Julie Nixon Krovicka is a Cuba High School alum who now lives in South St. Louis. Although she got her start in sign and billboard painting, the digital age has taken over much of that market. Now, Krovicka does freelance murals, fine art painting, commissioned paintings, calligraphy, faux finish painting, and signs for those who still appreciate the craft.

Julie Nixon Krovicka graduated from Cuba High School in 1977. At the time, seniors who had all their credits were allowed to take their final semester at a college.  She went to Rolla and took a drawing class. She had a small billboard business in Cuba, but the city was calling. She moved to St. Louis where she received mentoring and on-the-job training.

She got a job at Pony Corporation, where they did printing and hand lettered signs for all the Schnucks stores. Krovicka says, “Ed Schnuck liked the look of hand lettering for specials, he thought it showed the family-owned roots of the store.”

Krovicka went on to say, “Bill Walton taught me hand lettering, including script and freehand lettering. We did masters for printed and handlettered signs requested by the stores.’

Krovicka also worked for Dick Newman Designs as the design coordinator. She drew patterns for neon, plasitc, and pylon signs. She had her son Ian while working there. “I almost had him in the back room of DND,” she states. The artistic influence must have stuck because Ian is now in his senior year at the Kansas City Art Institute.  Ian has joined his mother on projects during his school breaks. During his winter break they worked on a faux finish project. Previously, he helped his mom on her signage at the Main Street Cafe in Cuba.

After the birth of Ian, she worked from home doing art and sign work. She states, “I went to work for Long Painting and Signs as a billboard painter and illustrator. The billboards were painted in the studio and then hung. “We did the mural in the North leg of the Arch that replaced the original construction site sign.”

“Most of the St. Louis Boo and Zoo exhibit were painted by me for Digital Sound and Lighting.

Most recently she has been painting for Miller Brewing and Summit Distributing doing a 20 location paint featuring Blue Moon Belgian Ale.

Krovicka's rendering of Blue Moon ale features the signature slice of orange that accompanies the drink.

Krovicka's rendering of Blue Moon ale features the signature slice of orange that accompanies the drink.

In other brew related commissions, she painted murals at Llywelyn’s pub in St. Charles at 100 N. Main Street.

The Guinness illustration for Llywelyn's combines Krovicka's lettering and painting skills.

The Guinness illustration for Llywelyn's Pub combines Krovicka's lettering and painting skills.

Of course, our favorites are commissions she has done in Cuba:  mini-murals on the outside of Frisco’s; large murals inside and outside of the Main Street Cafe, plus signage for the building; murals on the inside of the History Museum; a colorful sign for the library; the lettering for the Civil War Murals project; and, of course, the painting of her dad in the Millworks mural.

When Krovicka was painting her dad on her portion of the Millworks Mural, she reminisced about visiting him there when she was a child.  Three smells remind of my dad she stated: sawdust, Juicy Fruit gum, and Old Spice After Shave. Francis NIxon worked at the Millworks for 54 years.

Nixon Krovicka took part in the Millworks mural when she painted her dad as he worked in the millworks.

Nixon Krovicka took part in the Millworks mural when she painted her dad as he worked there.

Nixon Krovicka painted murals on the stair case at the History Museum.

Nixon Krovicka painted murals on the staircase at the History Museum.

The hand painted Cuba library sign is one of Krovicka's commissions.

The hand painted Cuba library sign is one of Krovicka's commissions.

The mural on the rear of the Main Street Cafe enhances the outside seating area.

The mural on the rear of the Main Street Cafe enhances the outside seating area.

The Main Street Cafe has two large Nixon Krovicka murals on the inside of the 100 year-old building.

The Main Street Cafe has two large Nixon Krovicka murals on the inside of the 100 year-old building.

Krovicka is a hometown girl who returned to make her mark on her Cuba. We are glad to have her artistic vision as part of Cuba Rt. 66 Mural City’s landscape.

Contact Julie Nixon Krovicka at 573-210-0091 or at nixon.j@sbcglobal.net.