Long Island artist headed to California to create Kobe Bryant mural

A Long Island-based artist is heading to California to honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant through a mural he's planning.
Efren Andaluz recently created a mural in Brooklyn that depicts Kobe, his daughter Gianna and the seven names of those also lost in the helicopter crash. The mural is across the street from the Barclays Center. He's currently working on a different mural at the Stage Door School of Dance in Patchogue.
His upcoming work will appear at a restaurant in Orange County. The California eatery reached out to Andaluz on Instagram after seeing his first Kobe mural.
Andaluz says he wanted to pay tribute to Kobe because he's looked up to him his whole life.
"I just admired his dedication, the way that he worked hard and how he achieved greatness. So I was a big fan of Kobe, and the fact that it was Kobe, not only him, other passengers and his daughter ... I have a daughter, she's 3 years old and it kind of really touched me," says Andaluz.
Efren says he's honored to be going to California to paint another mural. That mural will be revealed on Feb. 24, the day of the memorial for Kobe and his daughter.
The mural will also have all of the faces of the victims of the crash along with Kobe and Gianna. He says it will take about four days to complete.