Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale works on the mural he’s creating in downtown Franklin on the wall of the building that houses Sharp Graphics on Oct. 11.

Eddies of grays, pale purples, creams and other dark shades unfold around the two-story wall.

But from the muted background, brightness can burst through. Symbols of hope, rendered in stunning color, will soon populate the mural coming to life in downtown Franklin.

Therein lies the central message.

“The idea being that, even with that foundational part of the image, beautiful things can come out of the struggle,” said Patrick Tisdale, the Franklin artist creating the mural.

Designed to draw attention to mental health issues, the mural was envisioned as a way to visualize hope for people struggling. The work was commissioned by Upstream Prevention, an organization that aims to support positive mental health, decrease suicides and address substance abuse in Johnson County.

The mural not only adds to the beautification of downtown Franklin, with its increasing collection of murals and public art, but brings to the forefront an issue that touches everyone, said Kathleen Ratcliff, executive director of Upstream Prevention.

“It’s about hope and community and connection — this idea that we all have times that are a little bit dark, and we all have challenges, but there is hope and there is a way to connect with others and work through that and see light,” she said.

Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale works on the mural he’s creating in downtown Franklin on Oct. 11. As a foundation for the work, Tisdale evoked Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” upon which colorful symbols of wellness will come alive.

Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale works on the mural he’s creating for Upstream Prevention in downtown Franklin on Oct. 11.

Paints that Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale has prepared for the mental health mural he’s creating in downtown Franklin.

Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale works on the mural he’s creating in downtown Franklin on Oct. 11. The mural is a way to visualize hope for people struggling with mental health.

Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale works on a mental health mural he’s creating in downtown Franklin on Oct. 11. The eddies of color are inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”

Franklin artist Patrick Tisdale works on the mural he’s creating in downtown Franklin on the wall of the building that houses Sharp Graphics on Oct. 11.

For several years, Upstream Prevention and the groups that support them have been working to have a mural created that depicts a positive message for those struggling with mental health issues or suicidal ideation, Ratcliff said.

In particular, groups such as the Franklin Wrestling Club and the Franklin Community High School band donated money to specifically go toward an effort to fight for positive mental health, raise suicide awareness and honor loved ones lost. An emphasis was placed on those mental health issues facing young people.

“They all really loved the idea of public art promoting positive mental health, or raising awareness of suicide prevention,” Ratcliff said. “So we earmarked the money as we’ve been getting it for that purpose, but a mural is a big undertaking.”

With enough donations contributed to the cause, and with some grant money that could also be used to support the effort, Upstream Prevention embarked on making it a reality. They’ve also continued fundraising the remaining costs.

The organization had to get municipal approval, choose an artist and pick out a design. Most importantly, they needed a location for the mural.

Through the Franklin Wrestling Club, Upstream Prevention connected with the owners of Sharp Graphics in downtown Franklin. Raquel Dishman, owner of Sharp Graphics, and her business partner Charles Hessman, who owns the building in downtown Franklin, were supportive and offered the wall abutting their alley as an option.

Dishman’s son, Tyler Lanahan, died by suicide on April 4, 2015, when he was 22, which made the project impactful for her. She is particularly excited that a major portion of the design will include the new 988 suicide crisis line, to help people reach resources when they’re in need.

“We’re making people aware of that. When people need someone to talk to, that 1-800 number, I don’t know what it is. So they’re trying to make it easier for people to get in contact with some help,” Dishman said. “Just making people aware that there are people who can help you. Of course, I wish my son had dialed the number.”

The two-story, 60-feet-long wall offered a challenge for the artist making the mural. To create it, Upstream Prevention worked with Tisdale, a Franklin-based artist and part of the Creative Council of Franklin.

For him, the project was an opportunity to unveil a theme of hope in a unique way.

“I was excited about it because what they gave me was perfect for an artist. They gave me a vague idea, with some guardrails that were just enough to evoke creativity,” he said.

Tisdale’s design expounds on the idea of positive mental health. He started with a concept known as the “Dimensions of Wellness,” which explains how well-being ties together social, physical, emotional, spiritual, vocational, intellectual, environmental and financial wellness.

As a background, Tisdale played off the design of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” with swirls of grays and shades of white eddying across the wall.

The images on top of that symbolized positive aspects of mental health practices.

“It’s a nod to this guy in art history that a lot of people know, and he created this painting while he was in the midst of a mental health crisis,” Tisdale said.

The only words on the mural will spotlight the new 988 suicide crisis line, which now serves as the nationwide number to call to get mental health help.

“That’s a significant portion of the mural, and very visible too, so we can educate people about what it is and how to call,” Tisdale said.

Tisdale has been working on the mural since mid-September, preparing the brick wall before adding the background of the piece. He anticipates inserting the colorful symbols throughout the rest of the month, with only a few small details and finishing coating to complete before it is done.

The work is already drawing attention, as people have stopped to see what Tisdale is doing as he paints. And it is already starting conversations about mental illness.

“People have been sharing their stories with me, with is a whole other aspect of the project that is special to me,” Tisdale said. “Just to be a witness to what other people have gone through, when it tends to be such a silent struggle for people.”

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