SPRAYPAINTING By Hernán González

Spray painting is more than art, it’s a tool to empower young people who need to feel capable, visible, and heard. In my workshops, we combine individual canvas creations from day one with the collaborative experience of painting murals in public space. Two formats, one mission: to unlock personal growth through creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Real access, real participation

No experience needed. From the first session, every young person creates their own piece using simple and powerful techniques. This breaks the fear of failure and builds instant belonging. From there, trust and connection start to grow.

2. Confidence you can see

Finishing a canvas or a mural shifts self-perception. They go from “I can’t draw” to “I made this.” That shift, even in one session, leaves a lasting mark.

3. Learning through doing

Mistakes are part of the process. We fix them, adapt, or turn them into something new. Like in life, art teaches that it’s not about getting it perfect, it’s about staying in motion.

4. A space for personal expression

Workshops are rooted in real themes: identity, culture, emotions, dreams. Each person brings their own vision, no templates. They express, connect, and discover their voice through colour and shape.

5. Leaving a mark

When a group paints a mural, they change their environment. It improves the space and flips the narrative. It says, “We belong here.”
But the biggest transformation happens inside: they realise they have something to say and that it matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve seen it again and again: a single can of spray paint can shift a young person’s story. That’s why I keep creating these spaces in Dublin and around the world because when young people are seen, when they create, when they express, they discover something powerful: they can.

 

Hernán González
Urban Artist – Muralist – Community Facilitator
Instagram: @hernangonzalezstudio