SAN MARCOS, Texas - What was once an ordinary cement wall at a San Marcos elementary school is now covered in vibrant color.
The city's newest commissioned mural is underway.
Hidden in each letter of the word "Crockett," for Crockett Elementary School, is something uniquely San Marcos.
"We wanted everything on the mural to be native to the area to give it a sense of purpose," said artist Jessica Botello.
In 2014, the city put out a call to artists for commissioned murals around town. The idea was to use purposeful street art to deter from graffiti, and it worked.
"After we've put in the murals, the instances of graffiti have completely stopped. People have been very respectful of the murals and the tagging has ended," said Recreations Program Manager Lisa Morris.
This mural is the eighth commissioned piece of community art in San Marcos, and the artists think the kids are going to love it.
“I can just see their little faces smiling, and begging their teachers to come out and see it,” said Botello.
There is an artist call for a commissioned piece on the east side of the city. For more information about the city's mural project, visit the San Marcos city website.