Alert (March 11, 2026): Our TV translator in Flatwoods is experiencing technical issues. Our engineers are troubleshooting the problem. Thank you for your patience.
The hillbilly stereotype is frequently used to shame mountain people, but there are gentler versions, like Snuffy Smith, the long-running comic strip character. Snuffy Smith originally started out as a supporting character in his comic strip, which first launched in 1919 when Billy DeBeck created Barney Google. Artist Fred Lasswell was brought in during the ‘30s to create Snuffy Smith and his friends. And now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
The organizations are asking people who can paint inside the lines and who are in 5th grade or older to help with what they’re calling “community paint-ins.”
“The idea is to get people of all ages engaged in the process, take ownership and have the experience of having a hand in the growth of downtown,” said Lori McKinney, founder and director of the RiffRaff Arts Collective. “It’s about creating an entry point for people to get involved, and for those who have fond memories of Mercer Street. It’s a way to come together, reminisce and honor that history as we move into the future. “
The mural will depict the history of downtown Princeton through a collage of images. Mural designer Ellen Elmes based the piece on stories from the community. According to a release, residents reminisced of department stores, popcorn stands, and other nostalgic images as well as more current memories from Mercer Street such as an elephant on parade, butterfly wings and a clown on stilts.
The latest mural design for buildings on Mercer Street in Princeton was designed by Ellen Elmes. The mural will go on the side of a building in Historic Downtown Princeton, WV.
It’s the latest in a host of murals painted along Mercer Street in Princeton since 2013.
Artists are currently painting the design on 18 separate fabric pieces.
“This is a popular technique in public art, painting on “parachute fabric” or “polytab,” McKinney said. “It can be painted anywhere, indoors or outdoors, so weather isn’t a limiting factor, and the artist can paint in their studio at all hours and at their own leisure. It also opens up the ability to collaborate in the creation of the mural anywhere– in the classroom, in the park, anywhere. It will be particularly helpful and cost-effective if we’re working with a muralist who lives out of town.”
Once the pieces are put together, the art will be glued to cover part of a building in the downtown Princeton Historic District. The mural will be 12 feet high and 20 feet wide.
“It is permanent, and actually has a longer life than murals painted onto brick,” McKinney said. “Once it is installed, and sealed with the special varnish from Golden Artist Colors, it’s good to go for years to come.”
McKinney says she and her team are learning this technique from Elmes.
Lori McKinney
/
The mural artists working.
“It’s like paint by numbers, just like a coloring book,” McKinney said. “The colors and sections are marked so you know where to paint, and skilled artists will be guiding and instructing the process.”
The “community paint-ins” will be guided by The RiffRaff’s lead painter, Lacey Vilandry, along with other experienced painters. The events are scheduled for June 12, 19 and 29. If it rains, the “community paint-ins” will move indoors to the back of Appalachian Coffeehouse on Mercer Street.
The hillbilly stereotype is frequently used to shame mountain people, but there are gentler versions, like Snuffy Smith, the long-running comic strip character. Snuffy Smith originally started out as a supporting character in his comic strip, which first launched in 1919 when Billy DeBeck created Barney Google. Artist Fred Lasswell was brought in during the ‘30s to create Snuffy Smith and his friends. And now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
"Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire" is a young adult novel set in Appalachia. Written by West Virginia native Don Martin, the book follows the story of a witch-in-training who uses her magic to help a forgotten mountain coal town. It was an instant New York Times bestseller after it was released last year. Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Martin about the book and his podcast "Head on Fire."
This week, having a very specific talent can lead to a dream job. It’s how cartoonist John Rose got his foot in the door to draw the comic strip Snuffy Smith. Also, there are dos and don’ts for treating poison ivy. And, a young, old-time musician wants to save her family’s lost ballads.
For nearly 100 years, Snuffy Smith has been a staple of newspaper comic pages, though these days, it’s easier to find him online. Snuffy Smith was brought to life by artist Fred Lasswell in the 1930s, but now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke to Rose about drawing the famous hillbilly.
![muralartists3[39].jpg](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ab6c5a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe2%2F9b%2F1f0addda4ff291586b409f30fcc5%2Fmuralartists339.jpg)
