Preparing the background:

● Base coat the mural background with Midnite Blue.

● Divide the surface in 4 sections, from top to bottom.  Starting at the top, brush the lightest of the blue colors, Williamsburg.  As you get to the bottom of the quarter, “cross-hatch” the brush  (using the letter “x” to blend two colors together). 

● Brush the second quarter with Uniform Blue.  “Cross-hatch” into the first quarter to mix with the lighter blue. 

● Brush the third with Admiral Blue, once again, “cross-hatch” into the last color to blend in.

● Brush the bottom quarter with Midnight Blue.  Allow the canvas to dry.

Repeating  the same process of  “cross-hatching” allows each color to blend into the one above and below it. This method allows a gentle blend from one color to another, with showing a line of demarcation “straight line of color change”.

Shadowy and Hazy Effects:

● Using Williamsburg Blue, softly apply some misty areas over the surface using the cross-hatching method.  (Do not cover all of the darker colors, just create a hazy look with a soft, almost dry brush.)

● Use Admiral Blue to add definition under the highlighted areas you have just created.  Use a flat shader, and a sideways motion. 

Bamboo Stalks:

● Position the first bamboo stalk, use the photo as a guide, but also use your judgment and preference as to the placement.

● Keeping them a little off instead of straight up and down will make the stalks look more natural.

● Brush the stalks with Camel, highlight with French Vanilla and shade with True Ochre. 

● Brush portions of the stalks with Celery Green to apply an accented area, then brush longer lines with Avocado. Bring the brush up to create “lines” running up and down the length of the section.   

● At each joint, fill in the unpainted areas with Plantation Pine, using a flat shader.

● Apply a small amount of Burnt Sienna around the joints and along the shaded side of the stalk.  Shade the darkest areas with Burnt Umber.

Bamboo Leaves:

● The leaves always grow where the sections of the bamboo are joined. 

● Determine placement based on the location of your stalks. 

● Brush with Avocado, highlight with Celery and French Vanilla. 

● Shade with Plantation Pine and occasionally with Burnt Sienna.

Lily Pads:

● Use the entire design as it is in some areas, but to create a different look, tape off areas and use only portions of the design.  This allows you to use one stencil to create many looks.

● Determine the placement of the lily pads, allow some of them to go behind the bamboo stalks.  You can do this by putting some blue tape over the areas that you want the design to be behind.

● Brush with Avocado, highlight with Celery Green and  shade with Plantation Pine. 

● Use some Burnt Sienna to create accents, and French Vanilla for extra highlights. 

● Shade underneath the pads onto the water, with Midnight Blue and Plantation Pine. 

● Highlight the areas with a slight sliding motion of the flat shader brush with  Williamsburg Blue. 

Lotus Blossoms:

● Brush with French Vanilla

● To bring in the pink color, brush upward with French Mauve. 

● Use Antique Mauve to deepen the shadows.

Cattails:

● We used this stencil the same way we did the lily pads.  By using only a portion of it in some areas, we created a different look. 

● Brush the leaves and stalks with Avocado, highlight with Celery and French Vanilla. 

● Shade with Plantation Pine and occasionally with Burnt Sienna

● Brush the cattail with True Ochre, shade with Burnt Sienna and in the deepest areas with Burnt Umber.

Loons: 

● Loons are well known for their large sleek body and the hallowing sound of their call on the lake!

● The body is brushed with Black, and all of the little areas of dots and lines are Titanium White

● Their eyes are red…so use Alizarin Crimson for this area

● Brush a shadow in the water underneath their bodies. 

● When your work is finished, allow it to dry, then use your favorite sealer to lock in the colors.  Our choice sealer is Krylon 1311 Matte Spray.