School children prove it's never to early to become a muralist.

Third and sixth graders at Bay View Academy, a public charter school in Monterey, had a chance to work with a professional muralist this spring. The results are available for view.

Earlier this year, Bay View Academy partnered with artist Jess Soriano and Jess Soriano Studio to bring a mural to life on its upper campus, drawn largely from the imaginations of its own students.

The project was part of Soriano's "Our Canvas" program, which brings art workshops and mural installations to schools. Working with third and sixth graders, the collaboration unfolded over several weeks: First, students refined their artistic skills in weekly classes, then contributed drawings and ideas around a shared theme: "Natural Curiosity."

Soriano wove those student images into a cohesive design, adding her own flourishes and a vibrant color palette that generated excitement across both campuses. To involve the students in the painting itself, she developed a custom paint-by-number system, giving every child a direct hand in bringing the mural to its finished state.

"Jess utilized the images students provided, added a few special touches and a spectacular color palette, and came up with a design that has students on both campuses excited about the newly painted walls," wrote Jeannie Reese from Friends of Seaside Parks, which helped with the project, in a message for the Weekly.

And what do you think about the newest addition to the Monterey County mural scene?

Learn more about Jess Soriano on her website.