Looks fine to me. Have you tried to simply wash the brick? I'm assuming this is inside on a fireplace.

Do you know the paint color next to the brick is a bad choice?

Here is how your brick could look by simply painting the wall a color other than yellow. The darker the paint the lighter the mortar.

I get what you’re saying. Thank you!! I’m planning on cleaning the brick when I figure out the best route. I wanted to try and lift the mortar to more of a creamy white color.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20050329/lighten-mortar-color-with-muriatic-acid

I used chalk paint on ours.

@hazelcraddock- how did that work out?