Life among the trees sounds like a peaceful way to relax and unwind at the end of each long day, no matter what age the resident happens to be. Painting a mural that creates a forest canopy does not have to be difficult. Put simply, it can be designed based on your painting experience, age of the room’s owner, type of forest to be created, and other considerations.

Keep in mind that a forest canopy mural should be painted one section at a time, so that you avoid mistakes and the mural turns out much better. Here are some basic instructions for a great forest canopy mural:

Step 1. Start by drawing a pencil sketch of what you want directly on the wall. Pencil can easily be removed if you make a mistake, and the pencil drawing will help guide your paint strokes later. Draw one section at a time, beginning at the top of the section and working downward. Most people choose to add the trees, then grass, and finally brush or waterline.

Step 2. Add a base coat over the pencil drawing, using a very thin coat so as to keep the pencil lines intact. Use a dark brown for the base coat, but keep the coating very thin. The pencil lines should still be visible through the paint.

Step 3. Paint the grassy portion of the mural with a light shade of green. Use a darker shade to add depth to the grass, and a fat brush to paint the brush in a medium shade. Give the grass at least a few hours to dry before continuing.

Step 4. Using a fairly light shade of brown (or mixing brown with yellow in equal portions to lighten the shade), add the tree trunks. Use a darker shade to add depth along the outer edges of the trees, and a dark shade to add more depth.

Step 5. Add highlights with shades of green and brown along the brush line and between trees, until you achieve your desired look.

Step 6. If you have some experience with painting, you can add green highlights toward the top of your mural, and along the ceiling, to create the appearance of leaves. Use various shades of green, from light to darker, to finish the look.

Step 7. For those with a waterline, you may choose to add a brown mud line at the bottom of the mural, with hints of blue for water along the bottom. Grays and white froth make beautiful rocks and rapids, but be sure to use stencil or Internet resources to create the illusion of water, keeping in mind that it is often best left to a professional with experience.

Step 8. You can really make the room feel alive with growing plants and hanging plants. Surround sound with forest noises can give your child a haven for building imaginary kingdoms in the forest. This can make a fun scene for a library’s story wall, a classroom, a child’s bedroom, family room, or an adult’s bedroom or bathroom wall to create a peaceful paradise.

Author Bio: Learn more about decorating with outdoor metal wall sculptures and beautiful wall candle holders from our exclusive designer and staff writer, Alyssa Davis, of Metal-Wall-Art.com.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: forest canopy,forest canopy mural,painting experience,canopy mural,pencil lines,base coat