For some of us, painting a room is a dreaded task, but for Todd Mrozinski, it's his livelihood and a source of creative expression. Hence, Mrozinski -- the brain and braun behind The Painting People and Mural Makers Studio -- doesn't robotically roll semi-gloss on walls, rather he takes interior painting to another level.

"I love paint," says Mrozinski. "I love working with people to transform their environments."

Mrozinski started his businesses in 1998, and at the time, had five years of mural experience under his belt.

"One of my favorites is an animal mural for an elementary school in Fond du Lac that I painted earlier this year," says Mrozinski. "The mural depicted life-sized animals and added life and energy to a mundane cafeteria."

Today, he works with a small team of artists to paint walls, apply faux finishes and create murals. Word of mouth quickly launched the business to a lucrative level.

"I like the variety of projects I am involved in and the people that I meet," says Mrozinski. "We specialize in interior painting, faux finish and mural work. Every project has its challenges, I see them as opportunities for growth."

When he's not painting interiors, Mrozinski paints canvases. His current fine art deals with symbolism, paint application and essence.

"It is both therapeutic and revealing," he says. "Inspiration, beauty and truth abound in the overlooked and discarded."

Recently, Mrozinski painted a series of tree logs.

"They were all found at different times sitting on neighborhood curbs waiting to be picked up by the recyclers," he says. "I saw them as little treasures that were so beautiful and they started to symbolize people that I treasure in my life."

Mrozinski, 33, grew up in Fond du Lac, graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and studied painting in New York. Currently, he lives in Whitefish Bay with his wife of eight years, Melissa, and a 10-month-old daughter, Zofia.

Mrozinski exhibited in various group exhibitions including Teapots to Still Lifes, Spring Street Gallery in Galena, Ill., the 2001 Wisconsin Artist Biennial Exhibition at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc and had a solo exhibition at the Windhover Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac. He is represented by Frank Allen Gallery in Glendale.

Mrozinski collaborates with Los Angeles painter and former Milwaukeean Stacie J. Meyer of SJM Fine Art & Decorative Painting to expand his knowledge of wall treatments and mural offerings.

"My main business goals are to do what we do well, to provide custom and thoughtful input and enhance the environments of the client," says Mrozinski. "We not only leave our work, we leave our energy."