All images are linked to larger verions The aim was to create something appropriately peaceful for this active tai chi studio. The raggedy tree has a bonsai feel to it, and it stretches over the water and helps lead the eye through the rest of the scene. The bird also leads the eye further along, leaving the viewer to imagine what lies beyond the rocky coast on the far right side.
Both the left and right side have rocky shores. The tree is wind-whipped and worn, symbolically battered by life but as the saying goes, it bends and does not break. I intentionally kept the center of the mural "bare", with just the light filtering through the clouds and reflecting on the water. This symbolizes how through tai chi (as well as meditation, yoga, etc.) there is a place of light, tranquility and quiet between the rocky shores of our lives. The bird is also symbolic of freedom and adds a necessary "touch of life".
The mural measures 6.33 feet high by 22 feet wide. It took me about 20 hours to complete, including setup & clean up time. Another 2-3 hours were required for planning the mural and buying supplies.
Here are the steps that went into creating the mural, starting with the "before" picture of the wall:
