How to grow your own Moss Graffiti http://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/how-grow-your-own-moss-graffiti Rozie Apps |
Friday, 26th April 2013
Art and creativity can be used in powerful ways. They can cause happiness and sadness, anger and joy. But best of all they can unite communities and rejuvenate old or forgotten areas of cities and towns. Graffiti tends to have a negative impact on communities. Many people do not see it as art, but vandalism to their towns, cities and society. It can cost councils a huge amount of money to remove graffiti and this money could be much better spent.
A new style of graffiti has been spreading through the cities of the world, turning brown, white or dull brick walls into greener, brighter and more beautiful spaces for people to see. It is called Moss Graffiti. Also known as Eco-Graffiti or Green-Graffiti, it can be seen as a new style of guerrilla gardening. Instead of using harmful toxic chemicals to make art, moss can be used to make beautiful and harmless pieces of art. It is ecologically sound and can be easily removed by spraying lime juice on the design, which kills the moss spores. A moss zebra
If you have a wall at home you'd like to brighten up, or permission from the council to rejuvenate an area in your community, follow this recipe to create some green art.
You will need:
1 or 2 clumps (small handful) of moss
2 cups of buttermilk, or you can use yogurt (even vegan yogurt)
2 cups of water
Half a teaspoon of sugar
Corn syrup (only used if the mixture needs thickening)
Step 1
Wash the moss to remove as much soil from the roots as possible.
Step 2
Break the moss into smaller pieces and put in a blender.
Step 3
Add the buttermilk/yogurt, the water and sugar.
Blend the mixture until it is completely smooth.
It needs to be a paint-like texture. If it is too runny it will drip when painting your design, so use corn syrup to thicken.
Step 4
Use a paint brush to apply the moss-paint to your desired surface.
Step 5
If possible, check on your design weekly to either apply more moss-paint or to encourage growth by spraying with water. (This is more likely in a dry climate.)

http://www.stencilrevolution.com/tutorials/how-to-make-moss-graffiti/
Before getting into our guide on how to make moss graffiti, let’s talk about the impact of paint in the graffiti world. Obviously paint is not the most environmentally friendly medium for artistic expression. A significant number of these products contain substances that may be harmful to the environment such as lead, cadmium, formaldehyde, CFCs in paint spray, and many other similarly toxic substances. An alternative to using paint is to use moss instead. This medium is not only ecologically sound but also grows with time. Choosing The Right Spot
Areas that are exposed to the sun throughout the day are not conducive for moss growth. Moss needs some amount of sunlight in order to survive. Because moss is technically a plant, the area also needs to be moist enough to allow the moss access to sufficient water to grow. A wall inside the house may also be used as long as it satisfies these criteria. If the spot does not receive light from the sun, one or more light bulbs may be used to simulate sunlight. Planning The Graffiti Piece
Good artwork takes careful preparation. A site for the graffiti should first be selected. The site should be made of material that is porous enough to allow the moss to take root. A tentative plan on how it will look should then be etched on the chosen wall using chalk. This will ensure that what is put up is not haphazard or amateurish but something that will add an artistic ambiance to the area. Gathering The Materials Once a tentative plan has been chalked out, it is now time to collect the materials needed to churn out the moss paint”. The most important ingredient is moss. About a handful or at least two clumps of it would be enough but having more would not be bad. Moss is not really hard to find. It is common in most places that receive some amount of sunlight such as the wall of fence.
*Two cups of buttermilk is also needed (Yogurt may be used as a substitute).
*1 half a teaspoon of sugar
*2 cups of water (beer may also be used instead),
*Blender
*Paintbrush
*Container for the finished product
*Corn syrup may also be needed in certain cases to increase the consistency
Preparing The Moss For Processing
Wash the moss carefully. Make sure that bits of soil found on its roots are completely removed, or at least as much of it as possible. The clumps of moss are then broken apart even further into smaller pieces. This will make it more manageable and easier for the blender to work on. Mixing It All Together
Place the washed, broken up moss in the blender. Add the two cups of buttermilk, the two cups of water, and the half teaspoon of sugar. Blend this mixture until it is completely smooth. Now, use the paintbrush to test the consistency of the blended mixture. If it drips like paint with too much moisture, add corn syrup then blend the mixture again. Repeat this step until sufficiently viscous consistency is achieved. If the mixture becomes too thick, this can easily be remedied by adding water.
Once the moss paint mixture has the desired consistency, transfer it into another container with a lid. Seal it for the time being until a sufficient amount of this paint” mixture is produced. If the mixture is to be used later, store it in the refrigerator. Applying The Moss Paint
A paintbrush it the most common means of applying the moss mixture on the wall. Spraying it onto the wall is another method. The moss, however, often does not take hold as quickly as when a paintbrush is used. The moss being used as paint” is a living thing. The harsher method of spraying it on the wall will not help it take root effectively. Using a paintbrush is a gentler way to apply the mixture.
Stencils may also be used to create a precise image or graffiti. These could be cut from waste cardboard lying around the house into any shape desired. Another method is to cover the whole surface with moss paint”, allow it to take root and grow, then trim or remove portions of it to produce the graffiti piece. A dull knife or even a piece of hard wood may be used to accomplish this. Some people use high pressure water hoses but this requires more expertise and a steadier hand.
Once the graffiti is completed, store the excess in the refrigerator. This will ensure that a ready supply is at hand for use on days when an additional coat of moss needs to be added.
Helping The Moss Take Root And Thrive
The first couple of weeks are critical. The moss graffiti should be misted using a water spray once every other day to keep it moist. On days when it is not to be misted with water, apply an additional coat of moss paint” mixture. The best time to put up a moss graffiti are the spring and fall seasons. There is sufficient moisture in the air so misting or applying a new coat of moss paint” may be done once a week. Monitor the moss graffiti on a regular basis to ensure it stays moist. This will encourage its growth. Removing Moss Graffiti When one becomes bored of the mural or tag, scraping off the moss will not do. Small particles of it may still remain to reproduce. The most efficient way to completely remove moss is to spray it with lime juice. This will kill the moss and effectively remove it from the medium. The graffiti can also be modified this way. Use a stencil so only the areas where moss is to be removed is exposed.
In Summary
Moss graffiti is not difficult to accomplish. It does need careful planning like any artistic endeavor. Time is also needed to make the moss paint mixture and ensure that the moss takes root and grows properly. The refreshing appeal and ecological soundness of the graffiti piece produced is well worth the trouble though.