With a mural painting project winding down in downtown Oak Harbor, an effort to raise some additional funding is gaining momentum.

Karen Mueller, who spearheaded the project, is trying to raise $2,000 to cover some unforeseen costs associated with the artwork.

So far, $5,500 of the original estimated goal of $6,000 has been raised for the project. But Mueller, owner of Wind & Tide Bookshop, said that she’d like to raise another $2,000 to compensate artist Nancy Hakala for the additional time and work she put in.

Hakala started the project on Pioneer Avenue in early July and expected to be mostly completed except for some final touches by the end of the weekend.

Mueller said Hakala plans to put in more time to add more detail to the mural, which is being painted on the sidewall of a building at 841 Pioneer Way.

The mural features an open storybook the rests on a wood table.

The storybook includes seven historic images of Oak Harbor and North Whidbey. Hakala wants to add more details such as old postcards in the space on the outside of the storybook.

“The space is larger than anticipated,” Mueller said. “So we wanted to add more to it.”

Mueller said that those who make significant donations can have a say in what details are added to the mural’s outer edges. The postcards are likely to include people, so contributors can submit a photo of a relative to be “immortalized” on the wall.

“It’s an opportunity for someone to say, ‘Paint in my dog,’ or ‘paint in something else,’” Mueller said.

She also said that large contributors will get their names on a plaque that will be mounted on to the wall.

“If you donate a minimum amount, say $500, your name or your company name can be up there forever,” Mueller said.

Those wishing to donate may visit Mueller at her book store, which is located 790 S.E. Pioneer Way, just across from the mural project. She can be reached at 360-675-1342.