Local artist duplicates murals painted on Munich structure

It is a re-creation down to the last brush stroke.

Artist Grizel Herhold spent 28 days atop a scissors lift to hand-paint the domed ceilings and arches of Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas. Wielding her brush and collection of oils, Herhold duplicated the interior images of the beer hall in Munich with precise detail.

Visitors of the hall can pause in between brew sips, and look up at the hall's nine domes. Each contains a blue-and-white checkered Bavarian flag in the center, while four columns, extending from floor to ceiling, help "join" the domes.

The arches in the 24-foot-high hall contain even more elaborate splashes of imagery, such as goat heads, fish leaves, beer mugs growing on a tree, and other items one might find on a 16th-century Bavarian poultry or produce list. Herhold said they depict festive Bavarian living, circa 1589.

To achieve what she called an "autumn" color scheme, Herhold used 90 percent gold tones and 10 percent red in the beer hall. Much like the architecture itself, she believes the tones will set the appropriate mood for patrons.

"Overall, you're going to feel the warmth when you come in," Herhold said. "It's aged to perfection and it's very festive. I think it respected the architecture and gave it further meaning and life."

Meanwhile, the ceiling of the adjoining "biergarten" could not be duplicated, since the Munich version has none. Herhold, therefore, used her brushes and a supply of blue and white paint to create a "sky mural" so patrons can feel like they're outdoors in Germany while they are in fact indoors on Paradise Road.

Measuring 80X70 feet, the mural, like the domes and arches in the beer hall, also creates ambiance.

"I blew the roof off the biergarten with my clouds," Herhold said, laughing. "The clouds look like they're naturally swirling, and people can feel like they're outside."

The Cuban-born Herhold, who owns and operates a painting business named Artistic Expressions, has crafted murals in high-profile venues, such as the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and downtown mecca Neonopolis.

She stated that the Hofbrauhaus project was challenging, as she had to work from images of the Munich venue given to her on a compact disc. But she also called it her "most fun job to date."

Mark Mikelson, project manager with R&O Construction, hand-picked Herhold for the job.

Project superintendent Ken Tyler believes Herhold's work added an essential component to the imitation Bavarian structure.

"Hofbrauhaus is a place to relax, and her work helps give it a homier atmosphere," Tyler said.

"It makes it look more relaxed and more casual."

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