CDU mural updates! | The Royal

Scroll down for the most recent updates to this page.

This is the "before" photo of where the finished mural will be installed.

Another view of the "before" — Another view of the "before."

Art books for inspiration — Our start day for the mural! Thinking creatively, brainstorming themes, exploring the work of artists, sketching, putting pencil to paper.

Finding inspiration — Finding inspiration with Canadian artists.

Sketching and doodling on newsprint to generate ideas for the mural — Sketching and doodling on newsprint to generate ideas for the mural.

Sealing the panels with gesso — Sealing the panels with gesso to start.

Drying time!

Blocking out the panels and finally applying some colour. — Blocking out the panels and applying some colour.

More dry time!

Starting to paint some of the plant life which will be featured in the mural.

View of the panels, painted with vines and flowers — View of the panels, painted with vines and flowers.

Lying it flat to get a good view — These are all 12 panels laid out on the floor. The finished mural will be 8' x 11'.

Close up of one of the panels. — Close-up view.

Design work continues, freehand painting flowers, ivy, vegetables — Here we are continuing the design work, freehand painting flowers, ivy, vegetables on more panels. In this photo we are using molding paste to give the mural some added texture. (It's thick and white and gets everywhere and sticks to our hair and clothes!)

Closer view of the panels — A close-up view of the panels at this stage.

Close up of the panels. — Close-up view of the panels.

It's really coming along! — It's really coming along! (And yes, more dry time.)

Applying colours to the now dry sculpting paste. So much fun!

The sculpting paste adds so much texture but it also makes painting it more challenging. More effort is needed. We definitely felt the physicality today!

Another view of painting progress — Progress!

More use of sculpting paste – getting these panels ready to colour next week. — More application of the sculpting paste. These panels will be ready to paint next week.

Ready to paint over the sculpting paste next week! — Ready to paint!

Laying the panels out on the floor to admire it in its entirety — The panels are dry from last week (sort of, it's so humid everything is taking longer to dry).

The panels are dry from last week (sort of, its so humid that everything is taking longer to dry). — Taking a moment to admire our progress so far. These are all the panels laid out on the floor.

A close up of the effect of the sculpting paste.

More painting in progress

Close up of a painted section of the mural. — Close-up view of a painted section of the mural.

Close up of a painted section of the mural. — Close-up view of a painted section of the mural. We love the texture!

Painted sunflower — Flowers remind us of growth, and that we can overcome challenges, learn from our experiences, and become stronger.

Another view as we work

Unpainted panel ready for paint — Layer of modelling paste ready to be painted.

Close-up of the texture (soon to be grapes) — Close-up of the texture (soon to be grapes)!

View of the progress so far — View of the progress so far!

Admiring our work so far!

Painted panels on the table — Filling in more colour.

Painted panels laid out on the floor to show progress — This is what it looks like so far.

Close-up view of recent progress — Close-up view of recent progress.

Stepping back to admire the progress — Stepping back to admire our mural!

Laying the panels out on the floor to admire it in its entirety — Here's an updated view of our painted panels so far.

Close-up view of painted flowers and what will eventually become bumble bees — Close-up view of painted flowers and their lovely texture! See the bees? (To bee or not to bee? That was a question.)

Branches and greenery — Branches and greenery -- you can almost imagine them swaying in the breeze.

The mural is looking simply awesome! We are having so much fun playing with all the rich colours on our palette. We welcome the creative energy flowing from the paintbrushes of 'artists in the making' as new clients join our inpatient treatment program.

A close up of the effect of the sculpting paste. — Close-up view of one of the painted panels.

Mural update September 13 — Here's the latest view! The mural enthusiasts/artists are taking a three week break from painting to replenish our creative energy. There will be no mural updates until the week after Thanksgiving so check back then.

Painting the smaller panels of the mural — Filling out a bit of the details.

Mural drying on the floor — In the homestretch now! One more week of painting, next week, to add some finishing touches.

Close up of mural panels

Close up of panels — So much colour!

One of the finished panels, ready to be mounted — One of the finished panels, ready to be mounted on the wall.

One of the finished panels, ready to be mounted on the wall. — One of the "bee"-utiful panels that make up the mural.

Look at that colour! This is another one of the finished panels waiting to be hung on the wall as part of our amazing mural.

Another one of the finished panels. — Another one of the finished panels. We love the texture.

All the panels together on the floor — The mural is now complete! The next step is to hang all of these on the wall of the CDU lounge. More photos to come.

The mural was officially unveiled on November 29, 2023. Thank you to all of the fantastic artists who contributed to this amazing addition to the CDU! Here are a few photos of the completed mural.

The completed mural, now hung on the wall. The title is "Tangled Garden"

The completed mural, now hung on the wall. The title is "Tangled Garden"

The completed mural, now hung on the wall. The title is "Tangled Garden"

Plaque for "Tangled Garden"

The completed mural, now hung on the wall. The title is "Tangled Garden"