It started as merely a 15 x 8 foot sky mural with simple clouds.  But as I stared at that mural over the weeks I was enjoying our forest home, I realized it needed much more. A brilliant idea came to mind; I should create mural stencils for the ceiling (something no one yet has attempted) that were on the perspective of standing beneath elements and looking up at them.

It took me many months to accomplish, but I created a number of elements I could add to my ceiling mural and that would allow you to do the same. (And Oh do I have great ideas for many more!).

During this trip to vacation at our home in Idaho, (OK, to actually work on our home so we can move there in 2009), I spent time on my mural with the new designs and the change was dramatic!

I had used semi gloss paints to create the sky mural so that it would reflect light and create more drama. It was a better idea than I had originally thought! I stenciled my ceiling mural designs in flat paint (no gloss) which created the most interesting result! With the gloss sky behind and flat designs in front, the sky became so much more realistic! The sky itself actually seemed to cast light behind the mural elements which was a surprising result!

In one corner, I added my new Ceiling Mural Balustrade Stencil and on top of it add the
Ceiling Mural Urn Stencil.  During a future trip, I will add plants to the urn to drape down over the balustrade.

I had fun making it appear that the ends of the balustrade caps were broken by ending them in an uneven angled line (instead of a straight line) which gave them the look of "ruins".

In the opposite corner of the mural, I once again did the Ceiling Mural Balustrade Stencil. But this time, decided to hand paint tree branches that appeared to be coming from behind the balustrade.
I taped off the balustrade with blue painters tape to protect it from sloppy brush strokes.

Using a 1" wide, flat artists brush, I loaded one side of the brush in brown paint and the other side in white paint then began creating the base of the branch with long, simple strokes.Using two colors created a highlight on one side that mimics the sun shining on one side and shadow on the other.

Using the same load technique with a smaller brush, I began adding smaller side branches, occasionally twisting my brush during the stroke to create a more realistic  branch. Naturally, I painted only up to the protective painters tape so as not to intrude on the balustrade design.

Using a 3" wide wall paint brush, I loaded one side with light green and the other with pale yellow then begin blotting random leaf formations to create leaf groupings.

I continued blotting leaf groupings until I had covered most of the complete, large branch I had created.

I was only trying to create the "impression" of leaves rather than to have detail. Using the technique I have described above, you can create a full sized tree on any wall as well, or simply surround your ceiling mural with them.

With my tree branch completed,  I removed the tape, the branch literally seemed to be above and behind the balustrade.

My intent is to create another branch (since trees have many of course and not just one would be hanging over the balustrade if it were a full tree), in much richer colors.

With the background branch being light in color and the new branch I apply being in deeper colors, the lighter branch will naturally appear farther away since it's lighter in color (a trick to remember when you are layering mural designs). The farther away an element is, the lighter it should be in color with more forward elements being darker and richer. This gives the illusion of "depth" and distance.

With each visit I will add more and more elements to this rather large ceiling mural, but if I didn't add another thing, the mural is just spectacular!

After I had completed what I've shown you here, I woke up the next morning, opened my eyes and there above me was a vision of loveliness I know I will enjoy for decades to come. I laid there for the longest time enjoying it's beauty. It really seemed like I was looking up through a very large opening in the ceiling, surrounded by balustrades, branches and my beautiful urn, out to the sky above the house. It was awesome! I also know it has added great value to my home since having a pro come do a custom ceiling mural would be quite expensive!

So in closing, if you have feared creating a lovely ceiling mural in your home, our new
Ceiling Mural Stencils will make it easy, fun and exciting! The best part is, you don't have to have ANY experience, artists perspective abilities or even stenciling skills since stenciling is one of the easiest forms of art that anyone can do.I've designed them to be used on the inner edges of any square or rectangle on your ceiling so that application is very easy and you always get the perfect and matching perspective no matter which design you choose.
If you have never stenciled before, let me show you how easy it is by clicking this link:

Easy Stenciling.

So go forth my friends, look at your ceilings and decide just where you will create drama for yourself! It's easy and it's a blast!