Traveling artist offers creative talents to Montrose residents

MONTROSE — Montrose became a little more colorful this past week as traveling artist David Battaglia spread his brush across town.

Originally, Battaglia planned on quickly passing through Montrose while en route to Aspen from his home in Bloomfield, N.M. Once on the road, he realized how expensive Aspen could be and decided to make a local stop. Battaglia, a traveling artist, decided to inquire last week about painting

murals in the area and landed his first regional job at Fiesta Guadalajara.

“I went into the restaurant and showed them my portfolio,” he said. “They told me to come back in the morning and I talked to the owner. Sure enough I got the job and just did it. I painted Mariachi singers and everything was just out of my head, except they gave me a picture of the church in Guadalajara and I painted that exactly like they wanted it.”

Fernando Flores, manager of Fiesta Guadalajara, said the staff is pleased with Battaglia’s work and they are glad they commissioned his efforts.

“I think it’s a good mural,” Flores said.

Battaglia has been traveling around on a motorcycle he purchased about a month ago. He had been in an accident a couple of years ago and is just getting back into the full swing of painting — a career which has truly blossomed over the past 20 years.

“I am just now getting to the point where I can use my arm to its full potential again,” he said.

Battaglia packed his bike with a few personal items and a condensed portfolio containing examples of art. Past projects include outside murals on restaurants like Chick’s Oyster Bar in Virginia Beach and numerous Mexican eateries across the southwest. His is also known as Randy Battaglia from earlier work.

“I have done nothing but create all my life,” he said. “When I was young, the teacher would give me colored chalk and I would draw on the boards for the holidays. For me, painting is just a natural thing.”

Battaglia grew up on the East Coast and has been painting since he was a child. He never received any formal training but said his talents are “a gift from above.” His creativity also extends to music and writing. He eventually moved out west where he met his wife Carla in the early 1980s in Cortez. They raised two boys while traveling the United States and doing their art.

His more recent motorcycle travels allow Battaglia to find himself again, he said, as well as spread his creativity. He said he is finding a new path while honing his projects.

“I needed time away to think,” he said. “I want the things I paint to really mean something.”

After years of traveling, Battaglia’s wife decided to settle down and now maintains the family home in Bloomfield, located outside of Farmington, N.M., about 45 miles southwest from Durango.

For now, Battaglia continues to travel for work.

“I am willing to go wherever,” he said. “Well for now that is, until I buy a house. My wife always wanted to live in Cortez or Mancos.”

Before leaving Montrose last week, Battaglia stopped at Starbucks for coffee, where a patron noticed his motorcycle and struck up a conversation. The man told told him he might want to rethink crossing the mountain passes with the incoming storms.

Not sure where to go, Battaglia dropped by the Orchard Valley Christian Fellowship on East Main Street. He stayed for the Saturday service and spoke to members of the congregation. When they learned Battaglia was an artist, they commissioned him to complete murals for the church.

Worship leaders Mike and Susan Williams said they could not be more pleased with his work.

“We had always wanted to have a mural on the side of the church,” Susan Williams said. “We had this large wall facing town but we thought we could never afford it so we had tabled discussions. Then David walked into our services and we thought, ‘Hey, this is perfect.’”

Battaglia painted a large bald eagle on an outside wall and a more personal depiction of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee inside the church.

“I am really impressed with the detail,” Williams said. “He is a wonderful artist.”

So impressed with his work, the Williams couple are helping Battaglia network in the area. He will be doing some painting for America’s Best Value Inn, also located on East Main Street.

Battaglia is not sure what his future holds, but he said is pleased with the local reception.

“I really like it here. It’s a wonderful town,” he said. “I like the layout and the people are very nice. In fact, it’s quite cozy here.”