An Enchanted Forest painting and some deep (for me) thoughts on aging and time (but no math)

I thought I'd show you some steps to the Enchanted Mural I did for Kim's event.  I posted a few beginning photos here and there while I was working on it, but as it progressed and started to look like something, we wanted to save the "reveal" as a surprise for the Fair Maidens attending the party.

It measures 8-1/2' x 16'.  Too big for my garage wall! I had to bunch it up under the soffit, and move it down to paint the top after  I was done with the rest of the picture.

The first step was background color, blue sky, brown ground. I didn't bother to prime it this time.  I also forgot to cover my wall with plastic. 

Oops. 

Which would be fine, if the whole mural had seeped through, would be kind of impressionistic and fun. But no, just blobs of blue and brown.

Next, I painted the horizon and hills off in the distance, all in faded tones. After that, the grass.  And I sketched the trees in chalk for the trunks, then blocked in the dark leaves at the top.

I was going for a look of standing at the edge of a dark forest, looking out into a meadow and off into the distance.   I thought a road leading to a castle far away was appropriate for the Snow White story. 

Here are a couple of "during" shots as I tweaked the sunlight.  You can see that my background behind the pink tree on the left changes.  I did a lot of re-dos on that area.  But hey, it's only paint, you can change as much as you'd like. And I was making it up as I went along, so some things didn't work as well as others. There was a lot of painting over.

This is the final effort for that same spot under the pink tree.  Deeper shadows and some yellow splotches of sunlight.

The whole thing is done in layers. I felt like I really got to know that forest.

Like the fact that there are more pink trees far away to the right. They got covered by trees in the foreground. If I had done a drawing first, maybe that little issue wouldn't have come up, huh?

Here is it is, filled in a bit more.  Notice the shadow across the road under the trees?

I added little surprises out in the woods too.  (early version)

(Completed version)

This is where Snow White lived with her stumpy buddies. 

Her friends, the deer are in the woods too.

As well as a bunny and some butterflies.

I added a couple mushrooms.  I wanted to do a whole fairy ring of them, complete with dancing fairies, but I actually was able to stop myself in time.

This mural is meant as a photo backdrop.  No one will see the tiny goings on in the background for the photos.  But I was so involved with my own day dreams, I got carried away and spent way too much time on the far away details. They made me happy.

But they really took too much time away from my real life. I spent so much time wandering around the woods in my make believe life that I got nothing else done.  I've not added any new things to the shops, I've had no income. That is why they call us starving artists.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in creating that we don't care about selling.

But I am far from starving. I tend to snack as I paint.  Not a good thing for the waistline. I figure this mural cost me $1000 in sales online and added 5 lbs to my belly. 

Oh, but I sure loved being in this fantasy world!

Years ago, I did murals for a real job, but have gotten away from it.  I used to be super fast, because I did so many.  But with this I really zapped my time. 

I was wondering if it has something to do with getting older? (I'll be 55 in a couple weeks)  I seem to do everything slower as time swoops by me so fast.

Here is how I figure it:

When you are a kid time drags. Remember waiting for your birthday?? Those months seemed to take forever to go by.  But compared to the amount of time you'd been on the earth, it was a pretty large percentage of your years.  Lets say you are almost 5, maybe about 58 months old.  So those two months till your 5th birthday are.........

Wait a minute, I don't do math or percentages, what am I thinking???? My point is that two months of your life as a child is a huge chunk of time.  Two months of your life as a 50 something adult is nothing.  You've lived through 600 some months.  Time goes by faster due to your frame of reference.

That is what I am blaming on my slow down.  I take forever to get anything done and I used to be lightening fast. I think it is because time is slipping by so quickly that I don't register how long I've spent on a task. All afternoon at my desk feels like an hour or so.

Plus, as I said before, I got a little carried away on this project while living in the imaginary forest.

Case in point, this castle? I spent two hours on it. 

(the blue birds and leaves are just blocked in at this point, no details)

And you can barely see it. I wanted it to look very far away, and it does, but did I need two hours of detail to do that?  Oh well, I love the castle, so I'm glad that I did.

Another thought on aging:

As I get older, I care more about details.  I wonder how many more big projects I'll be doing? They seem to matter more to me, so I put more into them.  Not that I plan on kicking the bucket any time soon, or that I expect to be too creaky at 60 to get anything done.  But I'm just more aware of the remaining years and how precious they are.

Okay, back to the painting?

While I wanted the forest to seem dark, to emphasize the light in the break in the trees, I didn't want it to seem scary. The shadows are a pretty blue, and while there are bushes and grasses, it's not over grown and tangled. It's a friendly forest.  And since it is a photo back drop, I had to watch out for hot spots.  No glaring whites or brights, all are faded or toned down.  Which gives it a dreamy look, I think.

I'm afraid I can't get a photo of the complete thing while it is in my garage, there is no space to hang it up all stretched out. When I lowered it to paint the top, I had to roll up the bottom few inches.

Curtains will cover a foot at the top and 6" at the bottom will have to be rolled under to make it fit.  Curtains will also cover 2 feet on each side. I didn't know this till it was 90% done, so I went in and brought the leaves down lower and darkened them to keep the effect of a dark forest.  If the leaves were mostly covered at the top, it would change the look of the design.

This is a nest I added and wasn't happy with.

This is what it needed!

Much better!

If you want directions on painting a nest, I have a free tutorial here.

I'd have added more blue birds, but was afraid that they were so bright that they might stand out too much in photos.  And they could look like they were sitting on the head of someone standing in front of them in the photos.

And I think one of them will be cut out by the curtains, but maybe the tie backs will save it.

Sadly, it is also too big to hang anywhere at my house.   I donated my time (not planning that I'd spend ALL my time on it,) not the mural itself, so I get it back after the party.

I'd thought about selling it, but I have grown attached. I might cut it up in sections and wallpaper the grand fairies' room with it.  I'm not sure yet. 

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   I've been working on this wire birdcage tutorial, and now have it ready to send to you!  You can get the details here.

Comments

[Louise Oakes]

The mural is amazing, you are such a talented painter. My favourite bits are the pink trees and the blue birds. They really pop out of the mural. It's a shame it is to big to hang anywhere in one place, but I'm sure the fairies would love it their bedroom walls.
You're right about the age thing. I'm less than 9 1/2 year behind you ans time just flies by. No sooner do ee start a week, it's all over and we're starting another one! I lose time at the work table too.

[Linda P.]

Karla, I loved seeing your mural in progress. I hope you never get tired of hearing how talented you are. : ) I love the little details you added that the observer would discover with a bit of a closer look.

I am also 54, Karla, and I know what you mean about the passage of time. I have sooo many arts and crafts supplies yet unused, and I have been asking myself how many of them I will leave behind! I'd best indulge in more creating (and less time on the computer : / oops)!

My daughter and I have started going to estate sales together, and at one a lady looked at a table and commented, "She liked to do crafts!" I daresay if my family had an estate sale after I was gone, that same lady would be saying, "Wo Mama! Boy did this lady apparently love her some crafts--or at least collecting supplies for them! Eeek! What was she thinking???!!!" From this day on, you will find me creating as fast as I caaaaannnnnn!!

[Diane]

Wow! A lot of work! Great results!

[Gail]

I love the mural! What a treat to have it in the grand fairies bedrooms! How magical! I am always in awe of your talent, simply magnificent!

[Linda]

The mural is just amazing, Karla. You have so much in your imagination, such a wonderful gift that you willingly share with others. I can't imagine the time and energy you have devoted to this, glad you get to keep it! Thank you for sharing it with all of us.... I sure know what you mean about being slower....this just continually frustrates me these days. I remember back when my three boys were all at home and I was so very busy,,,,I kept the calendars to prove it....and I just can't imagine doing all that now!! I can't quite pinpoint if it is my body, or my mind, or a combination of both...but nonetheless, I am getting increasing slower at everything and the days are just whizzing by. I too think a lot now about what I still want to do and try to prioritize my efforts more to make the best use of my time. I just LOVE the castle....it was worth every second....and provides the goal for the journey. That is where we are all trying to get to! Blessings, Linda

[jeanie]

Karla, I'm right with you on time passing. Right now I'm going through some serious health problems and part of the cure may be loss or modification of vision due to the medication. For a person who loves to paint, create, read, it seems like the most overwhelming part of it. A lot of big decisions to make soon. And I look at all the art supplies in my studio, all the books on my to be read pile, all the things I want to See. And realize that at 61, there is less time to do it all, even on a good day. Shes, time does go by! Fast. Faster than I'd like.

[Soarenth]

I am awed by the work and detail you put into this creation, Karla!

Sounds like you completely had fun and will have no regrets, which is the recipe for "Win!" on my books. May the memory of your work, and its use at the event, always bring a smile no matter what you do with the actual piece! ;->

[Robin]

Your mural is amazing!! Karla you are such a talented girl. What a generous contribution to the event. How do you transport such a large piece of art without damaging it???

Im your age and I know what you mean by time and age. I remember when I was a child my grandmother used to tell me that when you get older time will go by fast and I couldn't wait to get older. Now I want to rollback some of those years. Although I think it depends on what your doing. When Im at work and there isn't much to do time goes by SLOW.....but on the weekends time seems to fly!!

Robin

[Nancy Thompson]

Soooooooo awesome Karla.......both your mural ...and your thoughts. I was drawn into your mural as if i was walking down the lovely path. I love all of the details...the vine on the tree...the apple tree...the inviting cottage...the shadows of light and dark....the sweet faces on the critters!
I am glad you wrote of your feelings about time....they echo my own! I too can get lost in a project and later wonder where the day went! I know I am slower now compared to my 25 years of teaching 2nd grade...never even had time to grow a tomato then!...yes..I too think of what the future "time" will let me complete. I guess the only real time we have is right now. Funny this topic came up as I am reading a little fiction book by Mitch Albom called "The Time Keeper" ! A very unique take on time and the meaning of time in life. Serendipity !

[Laurie]

I wouldn't be able to part with it -- it was such a labor of love, Karla! I love love love all the details. I want to live there!

[Folk Heart]

As a muralist, I know full well how long that took, how much re-doing, how much emotional investment and most of all how much love and devotion. That is the part that really counts, and I admire you so much for that! It's a wonderful, magical creation, and I think you should offer it up for sale to recupe your time/expenses. I bet there are tons of theatrical groups that would gladly pay a pretty penny for such a work of art...especially children's theater.

Thanks for always being such an inspiration to me. You have truly touched my life!

[Karla Nathan]

Im going to hang it up for us to use for birdsong first!

Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com

[Karla Nathan]

Oh, yes, boring times can still drag, no matter what!

I shipped the mural ups, rolled it up on a cardboard tube from a roll of upholstery fabric.

Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com

[Karla Nathan]

Ill have to look up that book, I like his writing, thanks for the tip about it, Nancy.

Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com

[Karla Nathan]

Thank you, Louise! Yep, the pink trees and blue birds are my favorite parts too. The colors for the event were royal and bejeweled, but I thought the pink was a nice, soft contrast

Karla Nathan
www.karlascottage.typepad.com
www.karlascottage.com

[Bears with a HEART]

Karla, this large painting (mural) is sooooo beautiful.
It looks like if you can really walk there and the castle is great.

Why don't you show this to the WD Parcs you go to or others.
I am sure such a Parc wants to buy this from you,
while it will enrich the Parc.

[Linda P.]

Oh, I am so excited that I will get to see that beautiful mural at Birdsong!!!

[Paula Kay]

I always get lost in looking at your art. It transports me, because I am not an artist. Just a crazy crafter. I think that is why it is so fun to see your process & hear your thoughts on it. You are a talent cuz:) My favorite is hearing how you get so lost in daydreaming through your work. I feel that way just crafting. Thanks, as always, for sharing your talents with us all. It is a fabulous piece of art. I envision it on a castle wall hanging from an old rod iron pole. So the grand-faeries room makes the perfect castle!

[Pallas]

Your mural is beautiful, and your talent is exceptional. I'd love to be able to see it in person, and the details would keep me in the forest a long time.

When I was young I remember my mom saying that the older you get, the faster time goes. I couldn't picture it, and thought it was an imposible concept. But now that I'm older (64) time does go so very fast. The question is: Does it speed up from here? Yikes!

[stephanie o.]

Just amazing...Am thrilled that I will to get to see it in person at Birdsong...

[bobbie]

Magnificient!

[Carrie]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow...

[Margie S.]

Wow!! Karla, that was the most amazing mural I've ever seen. Thank you for sharing it all with us. It's simply beautiful and I can see how you got lost in it all. I got lost just looking at all the pictures. I know we ALL want to live there :)

[María Eugenia Ávila]

Quedé impresionada! Hermoso mural, felicitaciones!
Maru

http://lulurulitos.blogspot.com
http://atrapadaenmisletras.blogspot.com

[Kathy]

Your mural is simply stunning and I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts on aging. I have 58 on the horizon was happy to hear I am not the only one who senses time buzzing by faster than I can keep up with. I am glad you were able to take that piece of happy time for the mural.

[Debbie Addie]

Please, please paint pictures so we can buy them....I am in love with this mural.