MOUNT DORA — Artist Richard Barrenechea stirred up controversy recently with his depiction of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” on a cement wall around a local home.

Now he's doubling down on the mural by expanding the work to include the home.

Barrenechea had the west side of the house painted Monday with a continuation of the Van Gogh-inspired theme as commissioned by homeowner Nancy Nemhauser.

The question is whether the new coat of paint on the house, located at 306 W. Sixth Ave. on Old 441 near downtown Mount Dora, will be called “graffiti.” That's what officials called the wall, citing code enforcement guidelines in residential areas.

A hearing in front of a special magistrate judge, who is to decide if the original mural is graffiti and if it has to be removed, is set for Friday at 9 a.m.

“The first thing we were told by code enforcement is that the wall didn’t match the house, so we’re giving them what they want. Now the house matches the wall. It matches the mural,” said Barrenechea, an artist for more than 20 years and who has displayed work in galleries in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, in Italy, Miami, Orlando and more, plus at festivals in Mount Dora.

Nemchek’s attorney James Homich said there are no city regulations that specify what colors can or can’t be used when it comes to painting a home in Mount Dora.

But Homich said he is busy with final preparations for Friday.

“I’m just worried about the wall right now. The color of the house is not what she’s (Nemhauser) been cited for,” Homich said.

Nemhauser could not be reached for comment Monday.

Barrenechea said he is working as many hours as he can to paint as much of the house as he can before the hearing.

City spokeswoman Lisa McDonald said code enforcement is aware of the growing mural. McDonald said the city's code enforcement officer went to the house Monday and took pictures of Barranechea at work.

"At this point it will be presented in front of the magistrate on Friday at 9 a.m. and we will let him make the decision about it," McDonald said.

Barrenechea said before he painted the mural, the wall was a plain white color that over the years had become drab and worn. He said there were many areas on the wall that were cracking and peeling and in that shape, was becoming an eyesore. When he asked city officials about what he had in mind, he said he was told that as long as the homeowner allowed him to do it, it was fine.

"Mount Dora is an art town. It should be open for all artists and art should be displayed publicly, not just at shows or festivals. The biggest cities have a call for artists and they pay a lot for art in public places because it makes the area look bright and beautiful," Barrenechea said. "Even here, people like that. A lot of them stop to take pictures of the mural or selfies of themselves in front of it, they post words of support on my Facebook or honk their horns as they drive by."

Barrenechea said it does not behoove the city to be asking for the mural's removal.

"The problem is that there are no specific rules or regulations when it comes to this exactly. Even if you ask permission, they (officials) don't know what to do," Barrenechea said. "I am hoping to make some change. It's time to open their minds."