Pack your bags and get ready for some Train-theme Murals, as well as a trip down memory lane. It was four years ago that I had the unique opportunity of painting a series of murals in the Kids Ministry Center at my church. They wanted murals that would make children feel like they were going on a journey aboard the “Grace Express.” Given carte blanche to paint whatever I wanted, they ended up with trains in every classroom, an entry way turned into a train station, and even train tracks on the concrete floors! The only thing I didn’t do was paint Train-theme Murals in the children’s restrooms. That is…until now.
Before I show you what I painted in those bathrooms, I want to share a few pictures of the work I originally did throughout the Kid’s Ministry Center. You can even go on a video tour by clicking here:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kAxWuiB7xw&t=44s[/youtube]
It’s one of my favorite projects to date. So, when I was asked recently if I could come up with something for the Kids Ministry bathrooms, I was thrilled. Specifically, I was asked to paint something, “colorful, scriptural and encouraging,” which sounded easy enough. Except I needed a way to tie it all together with the Train-theme Murals. About the only thing I hadn’t already painted was what it looks like inside a train, and that’s where I found my inspiration. I immediately searched for scriptures that would encourage children about their own “journey.” Then I went to work sketching out my plans for the two different bathrooms.
Using a projector, I was able to take my drawings, project them onto the wall, and then trace out my outlines. You can see how textured these walls are, which can make it a little difficult to paint with precision.
Next came the fun part; the painting. I always use acrylic craft paints for my murals, as well as paint samples from the hardware store. Here’s a hint: Next time you’re at Lowe’s or Home Depot, check out their discounted paint rejects. That’s how I’ve managed to stockpile paint in every color.
In the end, the first bathroom, the one used by K1 children, depicts a young girl sitting in a train noticing a sign as she looks outside her window. On it, one of my favorite scriptures, even though I didn’t include the whole thing. (It would have been too long, and these children are just learning to read.)
Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The second bathroom, used by toddlers, shows a younger child who is just beginning his journey. The suitcases are packed, and joy fills the room, along with a couple of hints of trains.
As far as murals go, these ones were pretty simple, but you can see how the punches of color liven up the walls and bring visual interest to the room.
While the walls are a fun accent, the truth is, our Kids Ministry staff is doing such a wonderful job “training” up our children in the way that they should go, nearly every church service is packed with kids who love being there. It’s only just a matter of time before they outgrow the “Grace Express” area and they’ll have to move in to a bigger space. That means these Train-theme Murals will someday be painted over, but God-willing, I’ll have a new set of murals to paint.
Thanks for checking out my blog. If you belong to a church and are interested in doing something similar with your Kids Ministry area, below are links to all my blog entrees on this topic. You’ll see, step-by-step, how it all came together. And feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. I’m all about sharing things I’ve learned and things I love.
http://www.muralsbymarcy.com/train-station/
http://www.muralsbymarcy.com/think-can-think-can/
http://www.muralsbymarcy.com/train-themed-murals-part-4/
http://www.muralsbymarcy.com/staying-track-train-themed-murals-part-5/
Awesome job and awesome “tie in” to the train theme!!