I’ve wanted to add some interest to the kids’ playroom for a while, and while I painted a color block arch when we first moved in, I wanted to add to the mood to make the room more dreamy and childlike, without compromising on my toned down, simple style.
So, after a lot of thought and browsing ideas, I cam across a photo that I loved and thought I’d try to recreate it. The picture is a forest with mountains on a cloudy, hazy day. I love the closeness to nature in it, the fact that it looked real and is a perfect balance between something that could be used for kids or anywhere else. The colors were neutral except for the trees that were in muted green and could work perfectly with the green color block.
I had some leftover paint in the garage, grey, green and white, and that was exactly what I was looking for. With these bases, I could create different consistencies and tones by mixing them together to get what I want. I also knew I had to water down the paint to create the haze effect.
Materials you’ll need:
- Sponge
- Grey paint
- White paint
- Green paint
- Water
- Thin paint brush
First, I started with watering down the various color consistencies I wanted to achieve.
Then, I started contouring the mountains with the foam using a combination of X shaped and circular motions.
Then, using the white and grey paint, start creating depth on different areas of the mountains to get a superimposed look.
Use the paintbrush to create the trees in varying shades of green and grey, and scatter them across the mountains.
Add the finishing touches to refine the illusion of depth if needed. Ensure your strokes are light and scattered above the mountains to create a cloudy effect.
Finally, with the paint brush and grey paint, draw the birds flying atop the mountains.
And it’s done! I’d say the most difficult part is the contouring and depth, especially that it needs to ben done fast to avoid solid lines and marks. I really did not know what I was embarking on and whether or not I’d be able to pull it off. But I am so glad I tried, and it has given me the confidence to do more!
So, if you’re hesitant about doing a mural, a painting or any other thing for that matter, just trust yourself and try!