Decorate a wall with a sunset mural.
A sunset mural can evoke a sense of relaxation, but it also adds a burst of color to a child's bedroom. Painting a sunset on a wall isn't as difficult as you may think. For this project, think of the blank wall as your canvas waiting to be brought to life with the vivid colors of a sunset. Grab your paintbrush and bring one of the most stunning elements in nature to your child's bedroom décor.
Instructions
1. Gather images of sunsets which will serve as a guide as you create your sunset mural. Study sunsets and note the colors. Most sunsets consist of colors such as shades of orange, red, yellow, blue or purple. Look at the tones of the colors in the sunsets; note how they gradually fade into each other. Use the colors that will appeal to your child.
2. Start working with a medium shade of orange 1 or 2 inches from the top of the designated area for your sunset mural. Use a large brush and sweep this paint color across the wall using long smooth horizontal strokes. Avoid short dabbing strokes because it can create a blotchy effect.
3. Dip your brush into yellow and use the same paint stroke as before to apply the color above and beneath the strip of orange. Sweep the brush back and forth where one color starts and the other ends to blend the colors. Sweep your brush across both colors without washing out your brush so you get different orange-yellow tones in your sunset.
4. Dip your brush into a deep orange and blend it beneath the other colors.
5. Determine where you want the sunset to end. Use a long broad straight stroke to define the end of the sunset with the deep shade of orange.
6. Dip your brush once again into the yellow. Don't worry about cleaning your brush in between colors because you want the graduated tones of colors. Use small sweeping strokes to create a round shape in the center of the dark orange to create the sun. Then let the round shape expand more and more as you work your way down to create the illusion of the sunset.
7. Pour orange paint and yellow paint side by side onto a paper plate. Sweep one side of your paint brush through orange and then the other through yellow.
8. Sweep this orange-yellow mixture to the sides of your sunset using broad horizontal strokes so the colors appear to gradually change like they do in a real sunset. Blend this paint color into the rest of the colors by sweeping your brush back and forth. Blending will get rid of any obvious paint strokes.
9. Allow the orange to dry at the top of your sunset. Use a clean paintbrush to sweep a deep shade of blue at the top of your sunset if you want to add this color. Use the same stroke as you did in Step 2. Always allow the orange and yellow to dry if you want to add blue, so the colors don't muddy together and turn green.
10. Paint a lighter blue beneath the dark blue using the same painting technique and the same brush. Blend the lighter shade into the dried orange paint.
11. Use a sea sponge dipped in paint to create clouds if you desire. Dip the sponge into white, lavender or yellow paint. Dab the sponge against the wall to make cloud shapes.
12. Wet a piece of cheesecloth that is large enough to be the size of a small ball that fits in your hand. Blot the edges of your clouds with the cheesecloth to soften their shape.
13. Paint a scene beneath your sunset that complements the rest of the bedroom décor. For example, if your child has a wild animal theme, paint a safari scene beneath the sunset with animals such as an elephant or a giraffe. A tropical vacation theme calls for an ocean scene with palm trees and a beach.
