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We recently finished a mural for the stage of the El Segundo Scout House. Here’s a look at the process behind it: (Note: Click the images for a closer look.)

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The Scouts recently remodeled their stage and turned the back of it into a rock wall. The parameters were to paint a nice backdrop for events but also make it double as a kind of faux environment for rock climbing.

Here’s a shot of it primed and ready to start:

Here is Dawn working on the drawing:

The painting begins, this stage is very much about getting paint onto the whole surface, laying in the sky areas and rolling out shades of grey and brown while working in rock-type shapes:

Most everything is covered with some paint now and rock formations are starting to emerge:

the next day we spent some time developing an area on the right side, working in a distant peak and making depth by darkening the middle ground with shadows, a trick brought to our attention by Dinotopia creator and fantastic blogger of art techniques, James Gurney.

Taking a few steps back, you can see the whole scene develop. We worked by bouncing back and forth from area to area, building up the whole scene together:

However, as you bounce back and forth, you tend to have to keep modifying your drawing. So here, we’re going back through it, looking towards unifying the whole image and strengthening the weaker areas:

And the same treatment on the other side:

Once the rocks were all developed, it was time for a bit of foliage and wildlife, most notably an eagle, for those scouts who make it to scouting’s highest honor. From this close you can see the holes that will be used to mount the rock wall hand and foot holds:)

a step back:

And the whole scene:

It took us about four days, including two coats of clear coat, to complete. And we’re very pleased to have been able to contribute something special to our local Boy Scouts, we hope they enjoy it!