Tropical Backyard Retreat
FULL COVERAGE MURAL
For first time home buyers Api and Dan, their dream was to have an outdoor mural depicting the iconic Ko’olau Mountains of ‘Oahu, Hawaii. The mural needed to be vibrant, fun, and also include the ocean, sun, and moon.
Setting the Mood
Api and Dan knew just what they wanted, which made my job a lot easier. They had in mind bright, warm colors, ocean waves, mountains, and a tropical vibe. They loved my existing artwork and wanted a magical realism unexpected twist.
Following our initial conversation, I created a mood board that showed a variety of inspiration ideas. These existing images act as a visual “menu” of sorts. Stakeholders can easily communicate which images they like and don’t like. This stage is incredibly helpful before jumping into original design ideas.
Design Process
After getting feedback from the client about the mood board, I started sketching. I played around with symmetry/asymmetry and yin/yang to create a balanced composition at incorporated all of the Client’s hopes and dreams.
Through the act of active brainstorming, the sun and moon morphed into an orange and banana. This was the type of special twist Dan and Api welcomed, so I leaned into it.
Color Exploration
The Client approved the pencil sketch so the next step was to make it colorful. The deep greens of the mountains and deep green of ocean water worked well together. We added in yellow-orange hues for the tropical fruit, and a pinkish red for complementing the greens. The sky is a pale green and there is a pale pink for balance.
Once the color design was approved, I picked out paint chips that match the digital version as closely as possible.
Painting Process
First things first: clean the wall! Exterior surfaces benefit from an initial deep cleaning. I prepped the wall by wiping down the entire surface and then taping off the edges. Next, I drew out a grid onto the wall in order to transfer the design in pencil. For a daytime outdoor mural, using a projector doesn’t work well and I am a grid master.
Then the fun part began: painting! Each color took 2-3 coats to become opaque. It was a lovely location to paint while soaking up the beautiful view.
Before and After
The back wall of the house that is now the centerpiece of the yard!
Testimonial
“Working with Siena was an amazing experience. We wanted a mural to make our home come alive, make it more "ours." We told our vision to Siena, who helped us brainstorm colors and themes. Within 48 hours, the project went from idea, to sketch, to reality. Siena is extremely professional, and she gets shit done! Siena's art speaks for itself, but I want to emphasize she’s also a great communicator and extremely reliable. I highly recommend hiring her!”
Daniel V.
Homeowner