How to Create Castle Wall Backdrops
- 1). Cover the floor with newspaper or a sheet of plastic. Spread the canvas on the work surface and smooth out any wrinkles. Pour white paint into the paint tray and mix in a small amount of black to create a light gray color. Roll the paint onto the canvas. Paint all the way to the edges of the fabric. The layer of paint gives you a prepared surface to work on and also makes the canvas more rigid so it will hang better.
- 2). Fold the top of the canvas over 4 inches from the edge to form a sleeve. Smooth it and pin it in place. Stitch along the folded over edge of the fabric. The sleeve opening will hold the PVC pipe and stabilize the backdrop for hanging. If you don't have access to a sewing machine, a hot glue gun will work in a pinch.
- 3). Sketch your castle wall design onto the painted canvas with chalk. You can keep your design as simple as a flat wall of offset rows of blocks, or you can choose to add a turret. Draw the design freehand, or cut a block pattern from cardboard and trace it, alternating the block pattern in every other row. Remember that castles are old and crumbling, so accuracy is not a requirement.
- 4). Pour black paint into a paper bowl. Paint the outlines of the blocks with the black paint, using a sponge paintbrush. Vary the line width so they are irregular, not hard edged. This gives the backdrop the look of aged stone.
- 5). Mix black and white paints in bowls to create several shades of gray. Dab the paint between the block outlines. Use sponges to create a mottled texture. Continue until the entire canvas is covered. If you have included sky in your design, paint it blue. Apply white paint with a sponge to create puffy clouds. Add vines and leaves with a paintbrush. Allow it to dry.
- 6). Slip the PVC pipe into the backdrop sleeve. Thread the nylon rope through the pipe, leaving a length of rope free at each end. Attach two eye hooks to the ceiling or wall. Thread each rope end through an eye hook and tie to hang your backdrop in place.
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