Jungle Mural

Hi! Sorry it’s been so long. I had a great time back home in Washington over the summer. The kids and I hung out with family for six weeks while Ben got everything set up for our next adventure. We are now in The Netherlands! We’ve been here for three weeks. I finally got a new plug for my computer so now I can get on with showing you what I got to do over summer!

While visiting my brother-in-law’s family I had a request from my nephew. He was wondering if I would paint a leopard in a tree on the wall next to his bed. Of course I said yes (I didn’t tell him I had no idea how to paint a leopard).

I got the tour of the room and took a couple pictures.

It was a pretty typical kid’s room full of books, legos, art projects and walls the color left over from previous owners.

My mind instantly went from a tree with a cat in it to massive full on jungle theme complete with a hut for the bunk bed.

The next morning I got to work sketching. This was what I was imagining for the big blue wall.

I know the bed frame looks odd, but I was trying to draw the back and head of the bunk bed so that I could place things correctly. I wanted the bed to look like it was built into a jungle hut with animals coming to visit. My niece liked the cat her brother was getting so the monkey got swapped out.

The kids also requested some parrots, a waterfall and some butterflies. A couple more walls were sketched to incorporate those ideas.

Kid number three was being moved into the room also so I needed to add a third cat.

All plans were approved by both mom and kids and so the fun began!

Day 1

The blue had to go and I had three very eager helpers! I bought them all their own brushes and put them to work.

They did a great job keeping the paint on the walls. I was rather impressed (and relieved).

“Are you going to paint the cats now?” No, they come at the end.

Next came the green background and blue for the sky. The surround sound wires left from the previous owners were removed eventually.

“Are you going to paint the cats now?” No, they come at the end.

Day 2

The big wall got trees layered on with a few vines and animals in the shadows. The base for the hut was added. I about got sick once I saw the color I chose for the hut up on the wall. Yuck! It all worked out, so don’t worry.

The color doesn’t look too bad here, but it was very orangey.

The distant hill and waterfall were started also.

“Are you going to paint the cats now?” No, they come at the end.

Day 3

Day 3 was all about the hut. I wanted to make the bunk bed look built in so I bought paint as close in color to the bed as I could get and used it as the main beams. I added some stripes to look like the walls were wood and painted some bigger logs for the window trim.

I added on this painted on cork board so my nephew would have a place to hang his artwork. I wanted one for his sister in the lower bunk, but due to the shape of the lower headboard I couldn’t fit one in.

“Are you going to paint the cats now?” No, they come at the end.

Day 4

Tree day! I believe I am now up to where I was actually to begin this project. A tree with a cat.

The big wall got the big tree. I continued it onto the ceiling to have more of a canopy effect. Ya, right. I actually got a little brush happy doing some of the background trees and I needed to cover my mistake.

A bunch of ferns and other random leafy shapes were added to the bottom.

Another tree was added to the other side of the hut for the parrots to sit on.

“Are you going to add the cats now?” No, they come at the end.

Day 5

“Are you going to add the cats now?” Yes!

The last day for painting and most importantly the day for the cats has finally arrived! Let the try-not-to-let-anyone-know-you-have-no-idea-how-to-paint-cats day begin!

Seriously, never been able to draw or paint a cat ever. I was doing major research the night before on leopards and parrots. Never done a bird before either! “Fake it ’til you make it” is the motto of the day.

Big cat first.

Hey, look! Not too shabby. Black shape with some highlights and eyes. Glow in the dark eyes to be exact. Hee hee hee.

Next, the little cat for the lower bunk. She gets a cub because it’s learning how to climb and can’t reach the upper window. Yes, I have stories going on in my head as to why they are where they are.

Next, cat number three for kiddo number three.

This one is watching the door.

On to parrots.

Look! I did a parrot! Probably not a representation of a real one, but with so many parrots out there, who’s going to challenge me? Well, my nephew might eventually. That kid knows stuff.

Another parrot on the big wall.

You know how I thought this was going to be the last day of painting? Well, that changed when I got a call from my Father-in-law. Seems as though Brother had been either mowing or weed eating and a rock chip hit his eye and imbedded itself. I needed to rundown to the ER with the insurance card. The ER was an hour away. I waited with him for about a half hour when my Father-in-law said that I could leave and get back to painting. I went back up and did a few more things, but I would need to be back for day 6.

Day 6

Okay, so this is really the last day. Animals got shadows to ground them…

… another parrot was added..

… and a frog hopped in.

Some finishing touches were added and viola! It’s done!

A panorama shot.

One more thing. Because I am who I am, I had been telling my nephew the whole time that I was going to be putting a polar bear into the jungle. I told him that I had full artistic liberty to do as I wanted. He was beside himself and was pleading with me not to do it because they don’t belong there. But, being a woman of my word I had to do it.

It’s behind the bed and not seen. He’s okay with it after all.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how my summer project came about! No one is more surprised than I am that it turned out. I was nervous with each new layer of paint that I would mess the whole thing up.

My nephew told me mid project not to worry, it was just his bedroom, then he brought me candy. That kid knows stuff.