I
t should come as no surprise then,
to learn that the Dufur brothers
worked side-by-side on an interior
wall mural in the popular Running
Shop and Hops taproom in downtown
Morgan Hill. The 14 x 25 foot mural
was their first commercial mural
project.
“We wanted to add depth and
color to a large wall,” recalled Paul
Rakitin, who owns and operates the
business with his wife Renee. “They
did an amazing job; we receive lots
of compliments.”
The mural depicts an idyllic scene
set in a grove of birch trees immersed
in colorful foliage. Beer kegs among the
shrubs lend a whimsically appropriate
touch, as does the inclusion of “Porter,”
a pot belly pig who serves as the tap-
room’s mascot. In the mural’s center, a
trail of footprints lead to the running
shop next door. Painted in acrylics, the
trees and kegs are accentuated with an
air brush application, creating soft shad-
ing that artistically defines the cylindri-
cal shapes.
The Dufur family moved to Gilroy
when the twins were two years old.
They grew up helping with the family
nursery. They attended public school
through the sixth grade, then pursued
independent studies through their high
school years. It was during this period
that Chris and Josh discovered their
interest in art. They entered and won
a sixth-grade poster competition and
drew inspiration from comic books.
Their interest in art grew and matured
during ten years of private lesso