SAN ANTONIO — Nik Soupè can’t believe he gets paid to do the very thing he used to get in trouble for. 

“As I got into junior high and high school, I got in trouble for coloring on walls, but I stuck with it and I got a little bit better,” Soupè said. “Now it’s my life and my career.” 

He’s known all over the world for his spray-painted Spurs murals in San Antonio. 

His next masterpiece is this 75-foot Spurs mural of a vela, a candle, propped up by giant hands with intricate details reflecting San Antonio’s Mexican American culture. This $100,000 project, titled "Por Vida," was funded by Centro San Antonio’s Art Everywhere initiative. 

“A project like this, we had such an incredible deadline. It’s like, 'OK, can we make this happen?'” Soupè said. 

Mural coordinator and artist Andy Benavides says this project is another example of Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama creating opportunities for artists even though Wemby isn’t necessarily on the mural.

Soupè says the big budget sets the standard for how artists should be compensated and that this opportunity is thanks to the Spurs being in demand. 

“This mural is very much a tribute to my mom, and my tias as well, who are looking down at us from heaven,” Benavides said. 

The mural garnered the attention of tourists and resonated with locals. 

“Puro San Anto carnal,” a man admiring the mural said. 

This project, like the Spurs' success, required a team. 

Benavides and Soupè expect to see more projects like these in the city moving forward. 

While the mural wrapped up, Benavides approached an old woman who couldn’t take her eyes off of the vela. He told her in Spanish the mural is a gift for her, as she waited for her bus. 

“I’m religious and superstitious enough that I don’t see it coincidental — that light, illumination of sunlight is on that mural at this particular moment,” Benavides said.