Holiday Window Painters See Business Boom After Gazette Feature

The three Poly High graduates behind Raincross Window Painting have been fielding requests since The Raincross Gazette featured their holiday window art last month, with clients drawn to their hand-painted nostalgia and neighborhood charm.

Jewell, Ariel and Felicity have completed several new projects, including their first business commission and a particularly meaningful residential job near George Washington Elementary School, where the three artists first met as children.

"One of our most recent projects was for a local homeowner right by George Washington Elementary School, which is special to us because that's the school we went to, where my sister and I met Ariel," Jewell said. "Knowing kids get to see it on their walk to school made it feel extra special."

The single-window piece featured Snoopy and Woodstock atop the doghouse with Christmas lights. Snoopy designs have emerged as the most popular request since the article ran, with multiple clients asking for Charlie Brown characters.

Snoopy and Woodstock atop the decorated doghouse has emerged as the most requested design. From left: Jewell painting the window near George Washington Elementary School, the completed residential project, and a closeup of the hand-painted details. (Courtesy of Raincross Window Painting)

The day the Gazette story published, Trubliss Fitness, a women's fitness studio, became their first business client. Ariel painted a holiday Snoopy and Charlie Brown design that incorporated the studio's existing Riverside logo decal.

The Charlie Brown design at Trubliss Fitness incorporates the studio's existing Riverside logo decal. The women's fitness studio reached out the same day the original Gazette story published. (Courtesy of Raincross Window Painting)

"Seeing businesses trust us with their storefronts has been really exciting," Jewell said. "They were very supportive of our work and they let us know that they loved reading our story in the article, which meant a lot to us."

The trio has maintained their collaborative approach while juggling full-time classes at Riverside City College. Hot chocolate fuels Ariel and Felicity during cold painting sessions, while Jewell prefers a chestnut praline latte. Recent clients have surprised them with coffee and gift cards.

Holiday classics provide the soundtrack for their work. Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" play while they paint and film behind-the-scenes content for their Instagram account.

Their dream canvas would be The Mission Inn. "Since The Mission Inn is such a huge part of Riverside's identity, it would be a dream location for us, especially during the holidays," Jewell said. "We'd love to bring some seasonal window art that makes it feel even more festive and magical."

The artists also envision projects at The Food Lab and The Raincross District, spaces they describe as creative community connectors.

Beyond Christmas, the trio draws inspiration from Riverside's cultural celebrations. The Día de los Muertos Festival resonates with them as Hispanic artists, and they've participated in the Riverside Ghost Walk since high school, when Ariel and Felicity created artwork for theater performances.

"We love how the festival highlights how art and tradition can bring the whole community together," Jewell said.

The Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn remains their main holiday tradition, a fitting favorite for artists who've made neighborhood windows part of Riverside's seasonal landscape.

Residents and businesses interested in window paintings can reach the trio through Instagram at @raincrosswindowpainting.