 | This is the design I came up with before starting work. The idea was to create the mosaic in pieces without a background. This way we could have seperate pieces (like the butterflies) without extending a background to accomodate them.The whole mural would sit proud of the hardiplank wall by 20mm. |
 | On the computer, I chopped up the tree into sections and move them around so they would fit efficiently on the CFC boards.By doing it this way, I saved a lot of waste – CFC is expensive so it’s good to waste as little as possible. |
 | I tranferred the design onto the boards in felt pen.Next step was to rough cut the CFC sheets into sections so the pieces were a workable size. |
 | Using an angle grinder, I then I cut along most of the smoother lines – like the tree trunk.I’m setting up the wet saw to cut the more irregular bits like the leaves so I just leave them rough. |
  | As has often happened before, I when I’m working on animals, I often attract them into my studio area.This piece attracted a tawny frogmouth (which I rescued and set up it’s recovery in my studio) & almost daily visits from a big goanna in a race for the chooks eggs.Of course both of these guys feature on the mural. |
 | Once I’d done as much precutting of the CFC sheets that I could, it was time to start cutting leaves for the tree.What you see here isn’t even all them! |
 | Here shows the leaves all glued down and it’s all starting to take a bit of shape now.For now, I’m trying to keep it in the rough final shape so I can see what I’m doing. |
 | I adapted my wetsaw with some boards at the same level as the saw – creating a kind of table saw (a bit wonky though!).Then I carefully shaped the CFC pieces right up to the tiling. This was probably the trickiest part of the work. |
 | What a mess – this is probably only 1/2 hour at the saw! |
 | This is what the pieces looked like whenI’d finished at the wetsaw.They all needed thourough rinsing with a high pressure hose and the exposed parts needed re-priming. |
 | Some of the pieces after I’d laid the brown tree trunks.It was starting to get exciting at this point – the brown & green looked great together. |
 | Then each piece needed to be grouted.Grouting the exposed edges was the trickiest part of the grout – most of my fingers had just about worn away – I don’t think they were made for this job! |
 | Completed, grouted piece. Note where I’ve left spaces so I can attach the pieces to the wall.I needed to drill holes in these spaces & countersink the holes so the screws would fit neatly. |
 | Once all the pieces were grouted, I needed to do some touch up work with the grinder so the pieces fitted together really well.I’ll be siliconing these gaps so I wanted them to be as tight as possible so they weren’t really noticed on installation. |
 | A piece all ready for installation. I’ve masked the edges so when installed, I could just silicone the gaps & then remove the masking tape for a very neat finish. Then I numbered them to ensure everything went in the right place at installation.Stuff best done in the studio before installation so there is less time on site. |
 | Ready to roll!First piece in place waiting to be attached to the wall.Had to take care that this piece was properly placed – if I got it wrong, the entire mural would be wrong! |
 | Fitting a new piece prior to attachment. It was quite difficult placing the pieces and screwing them in – lucky my daughter was on hand to help. |
 | All the pieces attached to the wall now.I now need to silicone where the pieces meet & remove the masking tape. Also need to glue tiles over the fixing points. |
 | Grouting in the tiles I glued over the fixing points. |
 | Installation complete virtually without a hitch.Took only three hours or so which was the reward for all my planning & care. |
