Tips and Tricks for Painting a Map on Pavement

This weekend I had the opportunity to work with a group of volunteers in painting a large map on the paved portion of the playground behind the local elementary school.  I struggled to find helpful resources online for such an endeavor and so I’m writing this to help communities that want to do a similar project. 

Below you will find my ideal timeline for planning and executing my project.  I ran into a little kink the day of my project because you have to prep your painting area (which takes one person with a leaf blower). It also only takes a few people to place the template and mark it with spray paint.  If you don’t want to have eleven people watching one person use the leaf blower, designate someone to do that ahead of time, have a handful of people place and mark the template and then schedule the rest of your painters to come.

Pro Tip: Schedule people to come when you need them so fewer people are standing around with nothing to do.

Sample schedule for the morning of the painting project:

8:00 am:               Two people unload and organize supplies and leaf blow painting area
8:30 am:               Two additional people come help layout template and mark it with spray paint
9:00 am:               Additional painters arrive to paint the map.

Pro Tips for using a map template:

1. Take off your shoes before walking on the template.
2. Unroll one strip at a time and tape it down as you go.  The slightest breeze will blow the template and possibly mangle it!
3. Hold down the edges with orange traffic cones
4. Consider how you want to place Hawaii and Alaska before you start marking with spray paint
5. Use contrasting color marking spray paint to mark the template onto the pavement (orange or a neon color work best)

The next kink was that the pavement we were painting on is not new.  Even thought I had in my head that we were painting on black top, it is not black…it’s light gray with white flecks.  So the white marking paint I’d purchased didn’t show up.  We were able have a couple people from the neighborhood run to their garages and find a variety of spray paint to try, and we found some that worked.  But this delayed the project a bit. 

Pro Tip: be hospitable.  Bring bottled water or coffee and donuts, if you run into a kink and someone has to run to the hardware store you can keep your painting crew from turning into an angry mob by offering baked goods.  Thankfully our principal covered the hospitality part of our project for us!

I split my workers into pairs and small groups.  Each group was assigned a color.  Several copies of a color map on clipboards were distributed for people to refer to in order to decipher the template borders that were more complex. 

Pro Tip: Have one person who isn’t painting who can walk around checking borders as painters are working.  It is sometimes hard to see mistakes when you are up close to the map you are painting. 

Having someone stand back to see the big picture can help.  Choose someone who can kindly point out where adjustments need to be made.

We set up a drop cloth on a level place where people can pour paint into their trays.  Drips and spills, while they are good to avoid will inevitably happen no matter how careful people are.  Keep some rags and paper towels handy.  The problem with painting on pavement is that it is usually not smooth.  We had one particularly bad spill by the Great Lakes.  We discussed making the lakes larger and greater or attempting to clean it up…one super helpful dad was willing to run to his house to get a wire brush to scrub the spot clean. 

Pro Tip: Have a wire brush on hand.  If someone spills, sop up the excess paint, dilute with water and scrub with a wire brush. 

It was great to have a variety of sizes of brushes and rollers on hand.  I would recommend having people outline their state or area with a small brush and then fill in with a large brush or small roller.  Rollers speed up the process of filling in shapes.

Pro Tip: ask volunteers to bring a foam pad that can be found in the gardening section of the hardware store, or an old towel folded up, to sit on or cushion their knees.

Be sure to take before, in progress and after photos to document your project.  It’s a great way to share with the community the improvements you’ve made.  Also, take time to thank your volunteers and others who helped fund or otherwise made your project possible.

Here is my ideal timeline for coordinating a project like this. 

Six months ahead: have the school contact appropriate people to approve the project. 
Several months ahead: ask for funds for the project, allow more time if fundraising will have to be done. 
Eight to six weeks ahead: set a date and raindate for the project and recruit volunteers.
And order a map template.
A week or two before the project: collect materials and put in an order for paint. 
A day or two ahead: hose off area to be painted.  Morning of painting project (or the evening before) use a leaf blower to remove loose gravel, dust, dirt, leaves etc from the area. 
Set up template spray paint the perforations in the template with a contrasting color.
Day of painting project: Have your team assemble to paint.  Plan on 3-5 hours to paint the map depending on how many volunteers you have.

FAQ

How much paint do I need?
The directions that came with my map template recommended one gallon per color to paint the USA map.  The age and quality of the pavement you are painting will matter.  The paint store where I asked said 1 gallon would cover 100 – 400 square feet…so not real helpful… we used a gallon of each of the five colors (to have no two touching states be the same color) and a qt. of blue for the great lakes.

What kind of paint should I use?
The map template I used recommended using a water based acrylic paint.  There are a variety of masonry and cement paints available but don’t necessarily come in a variety of bright colors that appeal to the students.  There are some traffic paints or striping paints available that come in basic colors (white, yellow, red, blue) Call your local paint store and ask what they recommend.

How many volunteers do I need?
I had scheduled two shifts of about a dozen people at each shift.  If you have many more people than that it gets tricky trying to fit everyone on the map at once while coordinating placing paint etc.  I would recommend no more than 12 at one time.

How long will it take to paint it?
It took a dozen people four hours to paint a USA map during our painting project.

How long does the paint take to dry?
Read the instructions on your paint can, but the paint typically dries quickly if the weather is nice and if there is sunshine and a nice breeze.  The paint takes longer to cure so avoid walking on it and definitely driving on it for at least 24 hours.

How many coats does it take?
It depends on the color and how thickly your painters are applying paint.  We found that the red required two coats and the yellow could also use a second coat. 

Does the pavement need to be primed?
We did not prime our pavement but added a second coat if necessary.

Do you need to prep the surface before painting?
Yes, it is ideal to be able to hose or pressure wash the surface a day or two ahead of time.  If that is not possible at least use a leaf blower to remove loose gravel, dust, dirt and leaves.  Sweeping wasn’t recommended because it can just drive dirt deeper onto crevices.

Should we add abbreviations, labels, state capitals etc?
It’s up to you, but there are lots of activities kids can do with chalk or props on your map mural.  I’d recommend making a platform for their imaginations leaving room for their own creativity.

What supplies do I need?

Acrylic Enamel Paint
Paint Brushes of a variety of sizes
Small Rollers
Large Rollers
Wire Brush
Water
Rags
Paper towels
Wet Wipes
Garbage bag/can
Plastic Shopping Bags (wrap brushes and rollers when they are not in use to keep them from drying out)
Paint Trays and Liners
Drop Cloth
Old Towel or Foam Knee Pads
Scraps of Cardboard (to put under paint cans)
Paint Can Openers
Paint Stir Sticks
Painter’s Tape
Masking Tape
Color copies of the map you are painting on clipboards so they don’t blow away

If you have any questions about my community’s project or your own project please feel free to leave a comment below and I will do my best to help you out!  Good luck on your project, your creative little hearts will surely enjoy playing and learning on the colorful map you paint!

Family Tree Photo Gallery

I’ve had this idea for a while: to create a family photo gallery on top of a silhouette of a tree.  First I collected all the photos that I wanted to use.  I found black frames for them with white mats.  The frames vary in size and design.  Some hold two or three photos.  Some were plain and smooth while others have a slight tapering angle to them or grooves that add some dimension and interest. 

I started by cutting out pieces of white butcher paper to match the sized frames I had.  I stuck them on the wall with blue painter’s tape that could be easily removed and repositioned on the wall without removing any paint.  I started with one large photo that would serve as a focal point, an anchor with all the other photos and elements radiating from that one.  I established a few lines within the layout to keep the photos looking organized.  I wanted an asymmetrical layout without it looking haphazard.  I thought about taking similarly sized photos and placing them on opposite sides of my imaginary horizontal and vertical lines that I’d created. 

Once my design was finalized and I had all the templates taped on the wall I used a pencil to outline the silhouette of the tree.  Then I removed the templates and painted the silhouette using paint that was one shade darker than my wall color and one finish shinier.  I was able to make my silhouette using a sample size from the paint counter.  It was a little tricky to paint because one shade darker matches the wall color when wet.  I felt like I was using invisible paint!  I painted along the pencil line, covering the pencil as I went.  As it dried it darkened a bit revealing the subtle look I was going for.

The next day, when the tree was dry I marked where the hanger needed to be for each frame and taped the paper templates back on the wall.  I hammered the picture hangers right through the paper template and then ripped the paper from the nail/hanger. 

I’m very pleased with the results and hope you can use these tips to make a personalized family photo gallery in your home!

Creating a Bedroom for Creative Little Hearts

This summer we transitioned our two boys into a new room that they share.  I tried to think about how to maximize the space we have and how to incorporate things that the boys love in order to make their space truly their own.  I started by defining how we use the space before moving everything in.  I want each of our bedrooms to be places of rest without the distraction of electronics or flashy toys, so the television and most toys and devices live downstairs in the living room and toy room.  A cozy corner to wind down with some books at the end of the day is a must for their bedroom.  This area can also double as a place for our youngest to have some afternoon quiet time to rest and nap.   Mostly we need a place for sleeping, and storage for clothing and books. 

The first thing we were looking for was a set of sturdy bunk beds that could be set up as two twin beds until our youngest is old enough to climb without falling.  We lucked out and bought a used set from friends down our street!  My husband convinced me to look at some used furniture and we have been able to outfit each of the boys with a dresser of their own.  Both are better built and less expensive than a lot of new dressers on the market. 

For bedding I searched for denim comforters that serve as a neutral anchor that can be changed and updated with other elements in the room and I hope these will be used right through to college!  I sewed some patchwork pillow shams and a throw pillow that ties together their themes of airplanes and tractors.  Hanging over each bed is their name which I decorated with scrapbooking paper using a decoupage technique.  There are lots of tutorials out there on how to make these. 

decoupage wooden letters with scrapbooking paper
click here for to link to a tutorial on how to make this

Under each bed I have some storage space.  Under one bed I store sheet sets and under the other I placed red canvas bins store small quiet time toys.  Above each bed and in the quiet corner I painted murals that are painted on lauan (thin plywood) and attached to the wall.  These are perfect for homes that have textured walls or for families that may move to a new house in the future.  We moved when our oldest was three and by the end of move-in-day his new room looked and felt a lot like his room, helping with the transition. 

mural on thin lauan plywood
click here for my tutorial

We completed the room with room darkening curtains and glow in the dark stars on the ceiling over each bed of course!  In the end we all love how the room came out.  My two-year-old often tells me how much he loves his “nice airplane”.

cozy corner with pillows and a basket of our favorite books of the moment

Excellence vs. Perfection

When I am teaching art, I feel that the most frustrating students, second only to the completely apathetic, are the perfectionists.  It is difficult to be creative when you fear falling short of perfection.   Taking risks and pushing the envelope are such an essential part of the creative process.   Yet our society driven by test scores and GPA’s can quickly quench the creative spirit. 

I remember learning to throw on a potter’s wheel in college.  One teacher challenged me by asking the question, “How can you know how far you can push a pot if you never have one that falls down?”  Anyone who has tried to throw a pot knows that gravity works against you constantly as you try to defy it and keep the soft clay suspended in the air until it can be fired.   You can’t know where that point is unless you have pushed past it and the clay has fallen down. 

I have led students in mural painting projects (and let me tell you painting a permanent, large scale wall in a public place for the first time can be a daunting task).  What if it doesn’t come out right?  Being afraid that you won’t do a perfect job can cripple the creative spirit.  My motto for my art club as they painted the nurse’s office at the school where I worked was, “You can always paint over it.” Taking that pressure off helped free my students to take the risk and plunge into a new exciting project. 

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that we should surrender into being imperfect and thus become lazy.  But what if we shift the goal from striving to be perfect to striving for excellence?  How much more would we enjoy the process of making something if we weren’t trying to make it “perfectly”?  How much more successful would we be?

I wonder how I can help my son become someone who strives for excellence rather than one who is paralyzed by striving to be perfect.  Sometimes I think about this as he plays on his train table (actually he would correct me if I said “plays” instead of “works” on his train table).  He comes up with some crazy ideas as he balances blocks higher and higher.  He’ll try putting the roundhouse on stilts and then parking train cars underneath.  Sometimes the tracks don’t line up and he has to take them down and try a new solution.  Oftentimes it would be easier if I would jump in and build it for him.  But would that teach him that he couldn’t do it perfectly so he shouldn’t bother to try?  There is an article in the September issue of Parents magazine about inspiring creativity.  Leslie Garisto Pfaff writes, “Problem-solving is an essential aspect of creative thinking, which is why you need to step back and let your child find the answers.”  Rather than jumping in and rescuing them she suggests asking open-ended questions that will spark solutions.

I read a book called “NurtureShock” by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.  One scenario describes a child painting a picture and the teacher looks at it and gushes about how that is the best picture she’s ever seen.  Scientific research finds that comments like that don’t encourage the child by providing positive reinforcement, but actually stunt the child’s creativity by making her think she has peaked at this early age.  If that was the best, where does she go from here?  This makes me consider how I compliment my child, being more specific about how thoughtfully he’s chosen his colors or, as they suggest in the book, how well he kept his markings on the paper and off the table.  Rather than tell him he did a perfect job I encourage the work he did and the thought he put into it.  Teaching him to be creative, and strive for excellence rather than strive for perfection.