TRAVERSE CITY — It took Lori Taylor and Marie Rust only five days to create a wetlands and river mural at the Boardman River Nature Center for the some 10,000 area children who visit yearly.
They started the artwork on the center's back interior wall Monday and put the last touches on the river scene Friday.
Five coats of metallic paint form the base coat. Acrylic semi-gloss house paint was used on the detailed river scene because it allows the mural to be washed, Taylor said.
The mural includes 40 mammals, birds, insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians native to the Grand Traverse region, as well as 15 native and 12 invasive plant species that grow here.
A hawk and a bald eagle fly overhead.
The left side of the mural shows high-impact activities and invasive species that harm rivers and wetlands. The right side highlights low-impact activities and show best management practices.
A cutout in the center reveals the river bottom.
Ten numbers also are painted on the mural, marking spots where children will be asked to place large magnets painted with pictures of animals, plants and corresponding numbers. The magnets, which will be used in education programs, will adhere to the wall because of the metallic base.
Painting nature murals is nothing new to Taylor and Rust, co-owners of Bear Track Studios LLC, in Pinckney, with wood artist Lisa Ramlow.
"Nine-tenths of the work I do is nature-related and designed to get kids out into nature," Taylor said.
That's also one of the goals of the Boardman River Nature Center and the Grand Traverse Conservation District, education specialist Cindy Retherford said.
"We want to inspire people to go out into our wetlands and see the plants and animals," she said. "We also want to instill a sense of stewardship in taking care of them."
The Boardman River Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
