When life is a struggle, create something.
Make art.
Do art.
Build something.
Paint a wall a bright color.
Anything, really.
For me, the act of creating something tangible that I can look at every day and glean some inspiration from is an amazing thing. It’s proof that I am able to rise above my circumstances and still thrive. Your troubles are temporary, boo. The sun will still continue to shine. This was my inspiration for this sun + moon mural.
National Painting Week with Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week is an annual celebration dedicated to the transformative power of paint and color in our homes and in our communities. Every year thousands of Sherwin-Williams associates volunteer to refresh hundreds of local spaces, including community centers, historic landmarks and more. National Painting Week aims to inspire pros and DIY-ers like me to embrace paint as a way to transform our spaces and our communities.
I definitely needed some sunshine to the exterior of my home and National Painting Week is a good time to make it happen. All you need is a paintable surface (for me, it was a wooden fence in my front yard), a weekend with good weather and some amazing exterior paint that will withstand the seasons like the Resilience Exterior Acrylic Paint line which gives exceptional moisture resistance and offers outstanding hide, durability and dirt-resistance.
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This paint brushed on smoothly and gave a great amount of coverage on the dark wood of the fence, getting in all those little nooks and grooves flawlessly. The Resilience line also comes in a wide range of colors, perfect to paint this half-sun, half-moon design.
They hooked me up with several quart sizes in every color I could possibly need to make this sun happen.
I chose multiple colors within the same color family: vibrant oranges, yellow and moody, cool lavenders and violet.
How to Paint an Outdoor Mural
Prepare your surface for painting. I chose to paint on a wooden fence and it was hella grimy. If possible, pressure wash your surface to remove any built-up grit and bird poop (trust me, there will be tons of dry bird poop). I did not do this step myself but I should have. Don’t be like me — wash your surface! After it is completely dry, be sure it is sanded smooth and free from any dust and debris. I had to pull out a few old nails, too.
Paint the Sun + Moon
To create the sun shape, locate the center of the area in which you will be painting. Attach a nail or a tack to the center and tie a piece of string to it. Pull it taut and sketch the circumference of a circle with a piece of chalk. Be sure to give enough space for the rays of the sun. The rays were drawn freehand to give it a more organic feel but you could totally use blue painter’s tape to radiate sun rays in a straight fashion and it would still look great.
Once it’s all drawn, fill it in with white primer. Primer is your friend and he will never let you down. I use the Kilz brand and it is everything. The primer gives you the fresh white canvas feel. For all these vibrant yellows and oranges, the primer is absolutely needed. Enlist your kids to help with this step like I did.
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Once the primer is dry, you can begin filling in your sun/moon with color. A technique I like to use is blocking out all of the shapes with color and adding all of the details (additional shapes and designs) on top of the foundational colors after. Use chalk to sketch out your additional shapes if you need to.
Creating the details is my favorite part. I loved drawing the eyelashes.
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…and the moon’s petite little nose. Be sure to seal your work of art with some sort of clear varnish for added protection from the elements. I used Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Varnish in a satin finish. Sherwin-Williams paint is amazing but the varnish gives it some extra love.
What I love most about this mural is you can see it the moment you pull onto my street, from seven houses down the block. I’ve had people drive by and give me thumbs up, tell me they love it from their car window. My neighbors love how bright and cheery it is.
For me, it’s a visual reminder: life has been tough and has felt dark and overwhelming at times but the sun will continue to shine for me. It’ll shine for you, too, friend.
That’s all I can ask for. For more project inspo, go here.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sherwin-Williams Latino. Opinions are 100% mine.
