DIY Network

Drywall Mural See how a master craftsman sculpts 3-D murals. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-151

Learn how a bucket of plaster powder becomes a serene mural.

Just about everyone likes to B. Original and hang some art on the walls. But, for sculptor Tom Moberg, the walls are the artwork. He specializes in sculpting bas relief murals from plaster and joint compound, using a combination of wet and dry techniques.

Michele Beschen apprenticed with Tom Moberg for a day to get some of his expert tips on sculpting with plaster and joint compound. Scroll down to see what she learned.

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Self-taught sculptor Tom Moberg says his mastery with plaster and joint compound sculpture is "the natural evolution over time of playing in the mud." That playful artistic philosophy translates into stunningly realistic scenes that can be found in homes and public spaces across the nation. His work also has a high degree of permanence: Each piece is impossible to remove without taking down the drywall behind it.

You don’t have to commit to a permanent, wall-sized installation to dabble in plaster and joint compound sculpture. Instead, work with a piece of scrap drywall or board and follow these tips:

	Figure A
	Figure B

• Don’t be intimidated. Plaster and joint compound are very forgiving surfaces to form and carve. Tom Moberg mixes his own joint compound because premixed compound is too elastic for effective carving.

• Sketch a rough design with chalk before you begin.

• If your piece will have a lot of depth, start with the features in the back. In the piece he worked on with Michele Beschen, Tom Moberg sculpted the hills at the back first. That way, he knew how much to build up his foreground to get the proper depth.

• Form overall shapes with wet plaster or joint compound, let them dry, then come back and shape with carving tools (figure A). This is the time to add definition and detail to your shapes. Tom Moberg uses tools designed for clay carving because plaster is so soft and easy to carve.

• Don’t try to execute the entire piece at once. In the project piece, Tom Moberg and Michele Beschen daubed joint compound onto a partially finished mural to add foliage to the trees (figure B).

Grab a board, mix up some joint compound and play in the mud—it’s a fun way to B. Original!

GUESTS :

Tom Moberg
Moberg Gallery
E-mail: info@moberggallery.com