Any foliage shape can be painted as a tree mural.
Trees do not have a perfect form, which makes them a good subject for a beginner mural. Any novice or experienced artist can create an interesting tree for a wall decoration. Trees can be depicted in any season and in silhouette or brightly colored. They can be realistic or abstract. There are endless possibilities for a tree mural, including a loosely painted tree with foliage and slight shadows. Have confidence in the idea you would like to render and transfer your image to the wall.
Instructions
1. Decide what shape and type of tree you wish to depict in your mural creation. Find an example, either as a photograph or in real life.
2. Make a sketch of the tree form with paper and pencil. Study your chosen tree to see what shapes combine to make the complete tree. Work on this study until you are happy with its appearance.
3. Sketch the tree outlines from your paper drawing onto the wall lightly with a pencil. Use a kneaded eraser to remove any unwanted lines.
4. Compose the basic shapes of your tree with light acrylic paint colors and a big brush. Leave some areas unpainted to look like the background showing through the foliage.
5. Paint shadows by making your original leaf colors just a little bit darker.
6. Add middle color values to the tree leaf shapes. These will be the colors that are between the light initial colors you used and the shadows. Flesh out this portion of the tree to your satisfaction.
7. Portray the trunk and branches. Place shadows on the sides of these forms that are opposite of your imagined sun source.
8. Represent the shadows cast under the tree, improving the three-dimensional effect. Again, keep the location of your imaginary sun in mind when you depict these shapes.
9. Stand back from the mural as you proceed to critique your creation. Squint your eyes to see the overall way the colors and shapes are coming together.
