Splashed on the walls of the Long Beach Convention Center, a painted zoo of California marine life captured a clear sky and ocean in vivid shades of blues and greens.

A school of dolphins lept ballerina-style into a clear sky. Black-and-white killer whales paddled in graceful curves just below an azure ocean surface. Emerging from the lower watery depths, a mysterious blue whale poked its nose through the water's surface. Further below, a sea lion twisted around a ladder of twisted green seaweed.

These mini-scenes have graced the life-sized mural, "Planet Ocean," on the circular walls of the Convention Center since 1992, but harsh sea air and age has taken its toll since the mural was originally painted.

"Planet Ocean," has served as a landmark to the city of Long Beach since the artist Wyland added it to his "Whaling Wall" series of paintings of marine life. Over 27 years Wyland painted new marine-life murals in 100 cities around the world.

Now Wyland has returned to Long Beach to restore his original painting at the Convention Center. He also added a few more flourishes to the mural that is over 1280 feet long -- just in time for Earth Day (April 22) and the weekend's Long Beach Grand Prix.

Wyland, city officials and Al Unser, Jr., the famous Indy-car driver, cut a green ribbon that stretched over a portion of the refurbished wall to celebrate the restoration Friday.

"Planet Ocean" claimed the Guinness World Record for the world's largest painting when it was completed in 1993, according to the Wyland Foundation. While Wyland acknowledges another work done by a team of artists has since seized the record for largest painting in the world, Wyland contends it still is the largest painting in the world painted by a single artist.

Over the past week Wyland enlisted a team of up to 20 people who helped peel, scrape and power-wash the mural while Wyland touched up peeling and faded portions of the mural with 1200 new gallons of paint. He also wanted to add a few more surprises to make the touch-up more meaningful.

"I even added myself next to a blue whale," Wyland said, motioning to one section of the mural.

Just above where the artist was standing, a painted scuba diver in swimming trunks floated a few feet below two whales that hovered towards the surface.

On the southwest side of the convention center, Wyland also added a blue whale mother with her calf floating vertically.

Visitors to the convention center had a chance to enjoy the vibrant colors that were painstakingly restored.

"I think it looks much better ... the bright blue just looked so cheery at the top," Corrine Hickey, a lifelong Long Beach resident said looking up at the 105-foot high mural. Hickey and her toddler daughter Megan witnessed the ribbon-cutting ceremony that rededicated the convention center wall.

"I've always loved it, and I didn't realize that it needed that much work," Mary Russell, a Lakewood resident said. "I'm glad to see they're sharpening the colors a little bit."

Wyland, a scuba diver and long-time environmental activist spoke in excited tones about his restoration project as he wished everyone nearby the dedication ceremony a happy earth day. 

He also revealed plans to paint his rendition of Earth on top of the Convention Center as soon as possible. The title of his work? "Planet Earth."

"I have had the rare opportunity as a diver to get close to these animals and then share it through art," Wyland said. "And art, I believe, is going to play one of the most important and significant roles in the effort to protect the planet."