Painting the Town

Thirty Years of Murals, History, and the Stories Discovered Along the Way

Researched and compiled by Libby Schaefer and Kelly Gaylord Cover and layout design by Skip Dyrda

   This second edition of Painting the Town celebrates the 30th anniversary of Punta Gorda’s mural program…a project steeped in community pride and visual storytelling. I was originally hired by Kelly to create new murals for one of the local firehouses. That commission led to more mural work throughout Charlotte County, and eventually to a new chapter: designing this book.

   Libby’s deep historical research and Kelly’s editorial guidance shaped each page. I handled the full book layout and cover design, translating our collective work into something tactile and lasting. Together, we built a tribute not only to the town’s history, but to the creative people who’ve helped preserve it on walls and in words.

📚 Painting the Town is available exclusively at CopperFish Books in Punta Gorda, FL