The Big Reveal.

Remember the mural I'd been working on? 

I finally finished it before spring break. This past week the kids were back in school and I just happened to be substitute teaching on Thursday so that was the day the faculty decided to unveil the mural for the kids. 

I. Was. Nervous! 

They herded all the kids, 120, into the foyer of the school where the mural would be hung and I tried to hide in the back hoping everyone would forget about me. I know, silly, since I painted the thing but really...I didn't like the idea of having to get up in front of the crowd...even if they were "just kids". I'm my worst critic and I could have picked out half a dozen things about the mural that I maybe should have changed and I was afraid everyone else would see them too. 

Hiding? No such luck. 

The teachers called me out and had me unveil my mural. 

(They hung it between the two benches.) 

The kids clapped and cheered; I was so relieved. You may think that's silly but kids have a funny way of being totally honest. And this mural was for them! If they didn't like it I think I would have been devastated that I had let them down. Adults on the other hand have a funny way of politely clapping even for something awful. Adults and kids are just funny aren't they?

I sure wasn't expecting anything but the faculty had bought me a present and it was the COOLEST thing! I never would have thought of this but they had my mural put on a throw blanket. How awesome is that? So now, where ever we live, I'll always have my mural! Lovely!!! 

This was so much fun and I was so very happy that I could paint something that, hopefully, will inspire kids. I love to paint and would paint all day if I could but I only have so much wall space (or closet space) to put my artwork. So having the opportunity to give my artwork away is a wonderful feeling. 

Art is medicine for the soul but only if we share it. 

Mural is almost done.

Almost done!! 

School Mural Painting; making progress

I've only been able to work on the school mural once last week and once this week for a few hours. Slowly but surely though it's coming along. 

January 7

January 11

January 22

I worked for about an hour and a half on just the mountain. I'm starting to feel a bit anxious about it. It's such a big painting that anything odd, or out of place isn't going to be something easy to hide. Also I haven't found a good reference photo to use for the foreground mountain so I'm pretty much making it up. After last night I'm pretty sure I'm doing a lousy job of it too. Considering there will be black letters over most of the painting I'm also struggling with how much detail I need to put into that foreground mountain. Too much and then I'm afraid it will visually take away from the words. I think every artist struggles with problems in the midst of their work that they may not have anticipated, unless of course they did a whole butt load of research and planning ahead of time. I'm too ADD for that. 

There you go, there's the progress so far. Spring Break begins March 8th which is my self imposed deadline. I'm still optimistic that I'll be done by then. Cross your fingers. 

P.S. - Do you find it as ironic as I do that I'm painting a mountain range for a school in the Kansas plains? 

I am painting a School Mural!

In my boy's elementary school there was a large painting that measured 57"x 75". It hung right inside the entrance so it was on e of the first things you noticed when you walked in. I Hated IT!!! Everytime I looked at this painting I would just shudder. The objects were too small, so was the lettering and there was too much empty space with nothing big enough or bright enough to be a strong focal point. No offense to the artist who first painted it. Painting on an extra large space is intimidating and takes a different point of view. 

So imagine my excitement when one of my teacher friends asked if I'd be interested in re-painting it. I literally jumped up and down (in front of a class of 4th graders). Talk about making my day! I just love painting BIG!! 

(I had started to prime it before I thought to take a picture. The only thing you really don't see are some word's at the top.) 

I don't think there are too many more inviting things than a large blank surface just calling to me. 

It was decided that I'd choose a few different quotes or inspirational sayings and the teachers would narrow them down to a couple of their favorites. They chose; "You are Braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, and Smarter than you think." and "Reading is Dreaming with your eyes wide open."

Then I came up with a quick sketch for each quote. I think these were about 2' x 3'. 

It was decided that I'd bring both drawings into the school and show them to the students and answer any questions they might have. Then the sketches were hung up in the hallway for a week for the studetns to look over. As a school they voted on teh one they would like for me to paint as the final mural. 

Can you guess which one they chose? 

I was anticipating that they would choose the girl reading the book.

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But they didn't. They chose the cliff diver by an overwhelming majority! 

I was able to get started just a little before Christmas vacation. The school is nice enough to let me paint in an older unused school building. Thank goodness because I don't know where I'd put a painting this big to work on in my house. 

I'm so excited and I'm having a ball with it! So far I'm fairly pleased too. 

I think the students are excited too. One fourth grader asked just last week if I was finished yet..such optimism! The fourth grade teacher is also going to drop in on the room occasionally, with her class, so they can see the progress of the painting.  

I'll keep you updated on how it's going. My goal is to have it finished by spring break. Cross your fingers! 

Another Mural FINALLY done!!

You probably don't remember this but waaaayy back in January I posted a bunch of quotes that I was considering incorporating into a mural for my bathroom. 

Well, I ended up actually starting this mural in April, believe it or not, but then life just got really hectic and I had a hard time carving out big chunks of time to paint. It was 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there. What made this mural even harder was that I chose some lousy paint! I ended up having to put on 3 COATS to cover evenly. Next time I paint a mural I am definitely putting a lot more time into researching paint!!! 

Last week though, finally, FINALLY I finished it!!!

I ended up choosing the Oscar Wilde quote, "With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy? 

My bathroom is kind of small and I couldn't get a photo of the full mural but I think you get the idea. (The light in there is terrible too.)The mural begins  above our mirror and sink on the left....

...then wraps around a corner and is above a window on the right. 

This little old mural only took me.....4 months!! Ha, if I didn't have kids I probably could have finished in 4 days! 

On a little side note I put up a new curtain in this bathroom, right below the mural. It had Venetian blinds in it, which I hate. DR and I argue over windows and light. He always wants them closed...he's got this thing about privacy! But me, I want the windows wide open letting in as much light as possible. 

Then the blinds broke, YAY!!! Now for a compromise...I looped a bunch of ribbons onto a tension rod as a curtain. This photo looks lousy, it looks much better in person, but now DR and I are both happy. He gets his privacy and I get light!!! 

I wish I could take credit for this wonderful idea but nope, I found it on Pinterest...of course!! 

What next? Should I attempt another mural? I'm not sure. Of all the 7 houses we've lived in I've never finished more than two murals before we had to move. Should I attempt another, or worry about bringing down the resale value?? 

Babylon!!! The Vacation Bible School Mural

Right after we returned home from our Indiana vacation in May I got to work painting flowers and vines....

....in preparation for our Vacation Bible School's theme, Babylon: Daniel's Captivity!

Behold!!! The Hanging Gardens!! 

I couldn't get a good picture of this before know because I had to paint it in two separate pieces in a pretty small space. It measures about 21 feet long and about 6 1/2 feet high. 

This was soooooo much fun to do!!! 

And I'm really proud of it considering how much time I put into it. 

I could do this for a living! I just love to paint BIG! 

The woman in charge of VBS already has a backdrop theme in mind for Christmas!! HA! Don't be surprised if it's done by Halloween; I really love painting this kind of stuff! 

Words, words, words...which for my blank wall?

The best thing about my bathroom is the huge mirror over the sink and counter. The worst thing about my bathroom is the huge space above the huge mirror. Ever since last year when I finished my Pheasant Mural in the boys bathroom, I've had in mind that I'd like to put something above the mirror in this bathroom. 

But I'm not leaning towards any objects like the windmills or barns in the other bathroom, rather I'm thinking of putting up some words...some great quote. 

And where do I go to look for something without knowing what I want?
Why, Pinterest of course. 

And oh boy, I was filling up my board with WORDS that I just love. 

Some though just aren't appropriate for my bathroom wall. 

Maybe not for a mural in my bathroom but I'd love this as a T-shirt! 

I can go through a whole jar of peanut butter by myself. No joke. Hmmm, maybe I could find a place in my kitchen to put these words. 

Isn't this one so true? But not for my bathroom. I don't want to encourage the men in my family to stay in there ANY LONGER than they already do!

I'm learning I really like Oscar Wilde quotes and need to read more of him.

Ah, Mark Twain...so American...and so true. 

  

This sure makes me want to embrace every morning. 

 

You just can't help but smile after reading this one. 

aahhh....

Irish blessings; You can't go wrong with those! 

I wouldn't put this Oscar Wilde quote on my wall but I really, really, Really, REALLY want it as a bracelet similar to the one in the photo. I need to do some research on that one. 

I still want to paint above my mirror but I'm getting overwhelmed with the wonderful words, words, WORDS I'm reading everywhere! What about you? Do you have any quotes on the walls in your home? Any suggestions? 

It may be awhile before I get this project finished but hopefully I can get it done before spring. 

My Mural is Done!!! Pheasants, Windmillls...take a peek!

I'm all done with my mural! Yay! It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. I did get carried away and painted A LOT more than I had originally planned but I think it's just right.

Come in for the grand tour.

As you walk in to the bathroom....

...behind the door. This is the view from the throne.

Next to the throne.

To the right of the sink.

And the main part of the mural! My windmill and pheasant!

There are overhead lights that shine on this wall, almost like the sun next to the pheasant. I'm deliriously happy with how nicely the pheasant turned out!

My windmill. P.S. - Using painters tape to make straight lines without bleeding is impossible. It. Doesn't. Work. I even bought some that was supposed to work better than the blue stuff..nope, it didn't.

My pheasant. I think I'll name him Phil.

Phil the Pheasant. Something this nice needs a name don't you think?

(Okay, hunters out there...did I do well? Does he look the way pheasants are supposed to look? Constructive criticism is always appreciated.) 

Phil isn't small either! Here I am leaning against the wall and taking a picture in the mirror over the sink for size comparison.

What's next? Who needs me to paint a mural for them? I'll paint almost anything! I think we could come to a compromise too; you babysit for me and I'll paint for you. Any takers?

One of my favorite murals...

....I didn't paint this one but I sure wish I had. This is painted on the side of a building at a grain elevator in a little SW Kansas town. I love this mural and will sometimes drive out of my way just so I can get a look at it.

How to successfully paint your own mini mural.

I've painted quite a few murals in my time and am always surprised at people's reactions. Some are surprised I could paint something so large. Some people are surprised that I can commit to such a permanent work on my wall. (Hey, I can always paint over it if I don't like it!) Some people are just impressed at my artistic skill. For me painting murals is easy and very enjoyable. If I could I would make painting murals in people's homes into a career. (Anyone who has advice on how to make that happen, I would LOVE to hear from you!)

Not everyone has the skill to paint their own murals though or the money to hire someone like me to do it for them. So today I'm going to give you a few tips to successfully create your own murals with as few mistakes as possible.

If you are interested in painting a mural on your wall I would suggest to start small. Something no bigger than a piece of typing paper. Maybe you collect chickens then you could paint a rooster on your kitchen cabinet door. Or maybe your kids love Winnie the Pooh. Why not paint the cartoon characters over their bedroom door or walking along the bottom of the wall? If you can color in a coloring book then you can paint a mini mural.

First select an image you like. This pheasant in flight I found on Google images and since I'm in the middle of painting a mural I thought this would be a good tutorial. Print off the image to the desired size. Don't have a printer? Use a picture from a coloring book or magazine, any picture that you can trace.

Now flip your image over and cover the back with lead pencil. Cover it once in one direction and then cover it again with graphite in the opposite direction. You want a nice heavy layer of graphite on the back. Hold your paper up to the light to see that you've covered the whole image. What we are doing here is essentially making carbon paper.

Securely tape your image onto the wall. You are ready to transfer your image. Don't try to hold it still with your hand, you'll slip and never get it lined up again. Trust me...I know!

I'm only wanting to paint a silhouette of this pheasant so I'm going to trace only the outside of the bird and not worry about any of the feather details.

(Sorry, I don't know why this picture is on the side.)

Once you've traced the image and all the details you want, remove one piece of tape and take a peek under the paper to make sure you've gotten all the lines you need transferred to the wall. Some places you may have to press harder with your pencil but if you started with a heavy layer of graphite on the back of your paper you shouldn't have a problem.

When you are ready, remove your paper and paint.

For beginners I would suggest using a very flat, simple image without much details or shading. Abstract flowers, silhouettes or cartoon characters are a good images to start with. If you feel confident enough to draw directly on your wall without tracing an image don't use a pencil. A pencil is hard to thoroughly erase from a wall without a Magic Eraser. A better option is to use white chalk. Chalk can be easily wiped off the wall and painted over without any mess.

Let's talk paint. Paint can get expensive. Even if you are only using a few colors, interior wall paint only comes in quarts and gallons at the hardware store. I really doubt you'll need that much!

Craft paint like these small bottles can be found at Hobby Lobby or WalMart. I painted entire walls with this type of paint with my students years ago and it worked just fine. The thing about this type of paint though is that it is water soluble and it can be rubbed off the wall if it gets dirty. If your mural is going to be in a place where it can get smudged and dirty, especially by little fingers, then it needs to be covered with a final protective layer.

Krylon has a very good clear finishing spray, but any brand will work, that will protect the tempera paint from getting rubbed off when cleaning smudges from the wall. I prefer a matte finish and usually applied 3 layers over my finished mural. But remember if you are using interior wall paint and not craft paints you won't need to add this final clear coat.

Anyone can paint and draw! Yes, I do believe that!!

(In fact if you want to learn to draw realistically

 I suggest you use this book.) 

Sometimes though budding artists just need a few tips and hints to build confidence along the way.