How to Paint a Mural and Win Bonus Points, at Heart and Home

Hi Everyone,

Here at long last is an actual PROJECT that I completed recently.

Daughter #2 had been begging me to paint a mural in her room.

I put her off as long as I could.

We finally got to work and created an "art installation" that

makes the room sunny and bright all the time.

More important, it made my daughter happy.

And I got a few extra hugs for my efforts.

That made me happy.

First, we repainted all the walls in the room.

I told her if she taped I would paint.

I came home from the store and the room was ready to go.

Blue tape was everywhere.

I couldn't back out of my commitment!

So...

The walls went from pink to a soft butter yellow.

I used the Home Depot paint with the primer in it.

It worked great, one coat and the pink was gone.

We used a satin finish, and the acrylic paints for the mural just glided on.

I got instructions from my "client":

Paint the sun,

Paint a tree

Paint birds,

and many flowers.

Make it fun!

Make it bright and stylised!

Use unusual colors!

Sheesh, bossy.

I told her I would do my best.

I painted the sun, looking sunny.

I painted tulips, and lavender, and sunflowers growing in a field.

I didn't use true perspective, or realistic colors,

 or try to be botanically correct.

It was fun!

And yes, pigs were a special request.

I should have charged her extra.

We had a few creative differences when it was time to paint them.

It seems the artist and the client weren't exactly communicating.

There may have been a few heated discussions about little piggies.

A few got scrubbed off, and painted more than once.

But,

we finally agreed on these.

They look happy and silly and not too realistic.

A real-looking pig is not good in a bedroom,

or so I've been told.

My very discriminating client knows what she likes,

and what she wants.

As an adult that trait will be very beneficial.

Now, it leads to a few verbal exchanges, if you know what I mean.

We don't always see eye-to-eye.

But we always work it out.

There are three swine in the room.

Cartoony-swine, but all the same

it's too bad the lavender isn't scratch and sniff.

The hummingbird would like that, too.

The sun is looking benevolently out over the hills,

Is it rising or setting?

We still haven't decided.

I don't think it matters.

I'm just glad my client was satisfied.

The room's all back together now.

The bookshelves are back up, the furniture in place.

John, Paul, George, Ringo and Harry are back where they belong.

And let's not forget that great looking chandelier (see it here)

that I fixed up for her awhile ago.

Everything looks pretty good.

Growing up, did you have a bedroom that showed your personality?

When I was young I didn't have the room I envisioned for myself.

There were a lot of constraints about what could and couldn't be done in base housing.

Years later, finally living in a home my parent's owned,

 I was able to express myself in my decor.

 I went a little crazy.

Wild, brightly colored, flower-patterned vinyl wallpaper,

 and bright white and yellow furniture everywhere.

Posters of Mark Lester and the Monkees.

It was quite the hip space.

Or so I thought.

But, no pigs, anywhere!

Until next time,

XO

Heidi

linked to Metamorphosis Monday, at Between Naps on the Porch.

Hi Susan, and thanks!

also: The Girl Creative

Cottage Instincts

Making Monday Marvelous, thanks ladies!

Pigs inspired by "If You give a Pig a Pancake", by Laura Numeroff