Anna Garforth was the artist to introduce Mossenger—her street art moss graffiti mural project—to the world.  Anna began decorating public walls with green graffiti made from moss. Not only do these murals encourage artists to use completely natural and organic materials (instead of the enamel based sprays that are full of synthetics) but they are also beautiful to look at.

And as it turns out, they’re relatively easy to make. All you need are a few key ingredients, a wall that doesn’t get too much direct sunlight, and you’re good to graffiti.

Ingredients

Moss (amount varies depending on how big you want your mural to be.  Decide beforehand on an image and pick your moss accordingly)

2 tablespoons Sugar

½ cup buttermilk or one can of cheap beer

Water
(in case your mixture is too thick and needs to be watered down)

Materials

Blender

Container

Paint Brush

How to Do it

Decide on an image. Stencil or draw it freehand in chalk on your chosen wall.  Brick walls are beautiful backdrops.

Collect your moss.  Once you start searching, I guarantee you’ll find more than your fair share; it’s everywhere.

Clean the debris from the belly side of your moss.

Place moss in the blender, add your sugar, buttermilk (or beer), and blend until it is the consistency of a thick shake. If it’s too thick, add water.

Paint the mixture over your drawn image.

Save any excess in a container in the fridge.

Many recommend reapplying the moss mixture every second day, and spraying the mural
with water on the alternate day.

The moss will begin to grow on your wall after about a week.  It’s a slow growth, and takes about a month to fill in, but then again, the Sistene Chapel wasn’t painted in a day…

-Arianna Schioldager