Walk-through
Walls
Benicia’s Historic Tannery Building
By Mary Swift-Swan
Standing at the entrance to the Tannery shop and eatery complex,
near the bottom of 1st Street in Benicia, was mesmerizing. The walls
of the quiet complex are covered in murals that look realistic and
serene. Some of the murals in the hallway use bright pastels to
create a fantasy effect, while others create an inviting landscape
to walk into.
The
creator of these lovely murals is Cynthia Alfaro Giroux. She is a
well-known talent, heavily booked by local interior designers,
homeowners, and commercial businesses in Solano County. Born and
raised in Vallejo, Cynthia moved to Benicia 38 years ago. Each
month, on First Friday’s on 1st Street, many shops stay open late,
so people stroll the streets in the evenings. Said the Solono County
native, “When I first moved here, there were only five stop signs in
town. It has grown but still has a small- town feel and sense of
community. I love the parades. It is a fun place.”
Several
years ago, Cynthia inquired about moving to a large studio in the
multi-use historic Tannery building. The owner of the building asked
if she would paint the hallways in the complex. She began the task
with fellow artist Caroline Patrick, who for a time shared the
studio. As Cynthia’s subtle style became even more noticed because
of the murals, she got so busy that Caroline had to finish the
hallway painting
project.
At one point, the restaurant on the south side of the Tannery was
remodeled, and the new Shoreline Restaurant owner hired her to paint
its walls. In her studio, she has the same stunning view as the
restaurant, the Straits and the Carquinez bridges. The area used to
be a brackish marsh and a haven to birds. The murals she painted on
the walls were an inspiration to complement, not compete, with the
fantastic view. A branch of a tree outside the restaurant was
incorporated into her mural, continuing the tree inside to frame one
side of the bank of windows. To big to sketch, she painted the walls
as she imagined it.
![](images/Cynthia%20Parot%20On%20Canvas.jpg)
Cynthia
selected a sky blue color for the walls and ceiling of the
restaurant and bar area. The birds depicted on the walls sometimes
land outside. She might be adding pelicans to the scene, since they
have been part of the view for the last two years. Overall, the
effect is quiet, serene, and beautiful.
After the main interview, we viewed the thick book showing some of
her many projects. In some locations, she needed to paint a
specified subject that was difficult to do on location. In those
cases, she paints on canvas, then cuts out the canvas and uses
wallpaper paste to affix it seamlessly into the rest of the painted
mural. This technique has allowed clients to take that part of the
painting with them if they move because the canvas can be removed
and rolled up to be transported to a new location.
![](images/rainforest%20miror%20one%20C.jpg)
She
generally does not paint from photos or sketches. She paints
primarily from images in her head and memory, although she can paint
nearly anything she sees. Cynthia did not start out as a painter,
nor has she taken classes in painting. She drew and painted signs,
plus doing calligraphy. From that background, she has developed an
ability to draw a straight line, is able to execute precision
detail, and letter most any surface. Over the last ten years, she
has taught herself to paint and has been just as ecstatic as her
clients
with the results. She offers Trompe L’Oeil, faux painting, faux
finishing, and other decorative painting techniques. Her primary
style is Trompe L’Oeil, which in French means “to fool the eye.”
Fool the eye is indeed what her work does, as well as lift the
heart.