Graffiti Art: All Natural Graffiti Made from Moss

Moss Graffiti Art

I just love a DIY urban beautification project! Whether we’re talking about Kintta’s yarn graffiti or using seedbombs to spread greenery to blighted spaces, I’m struck by how much a little color can impact the urban landscape. Moss graffiti art and moss carvings definitely fall under this umbrella.

Moss Graffiti Art

Unlike spray paint, moss graffiti art is all natural and healthy to work with. You can paint words or images, and the moss fills in like magic! It’s easy as pie to whip up a batch of moss paint. Here’s how:

In your blender, combine:

  • One can of cheap beer or 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • A few handfuls of moss
  • One teaspoon of sugar.

Blend until the mixture is smooth, and you’re ready to get painting!

You can use a brush to paint your moss onto concrete walls, rocks, or brick. Mist the moss once a day to help it thrive, and soon your green graffiti will take hold! If you’re looking to take this project to the streets, use caution- we don’t want to be responsible for any vandalism charges!

Moss Carvings

moss carvings

Already have a mossy wall? You can also play around with using that as your canvas and carve a design right into the moss. Use a spoon or a butter knife to carve out your designs. Again, be careful if you’re not on your own property! You don’t want to get in trouble for trespassing.

Have you guys seen other examples of cool, moss graffiti art? Share away in the comments!

You might also like…

Image Credits: Moss Graffiti. Creative Commons photo by webponce, Moss Carvings. Creative Commons photo by greatg

80 thoughts on “Graffiti Art: All Natural Graffiti Made from Moss”

  1. Pingback: Quick Green Reads For The Weekend Volume 184 | The Good Human

  2. We must do all we can to harness the power of nature and this moss painting idea is just excellent. I will try it out at the earliest opportunity and thank you for giving us this.

    1. You could probably order some on-line if you can’t get it locally. Just do a search on Bing or Google. I hope this helps….Good Luck! 🙂

  3. How do you get the letters so perfect? I’m dyin’ to do this but don’t wanna start until I know how to make the letters looks so pretty :0)

  4. wont the moss grow and spread and to a big blobby mossy mess eventually? and then defeat the whole trying to make a cool design? then i would be sad 🙁

    1. eventually, but I would think that would take at least a few months, if not much longer.  you’d have plenty of time to enjoy it, and then you could scrape it all off and do something else

  5. Another Moss ?: What type of moss is this?  I live in FL and we have spanish moss.  I don’t think that is the same as seen here.  Would it still work?  Thanks for helping.

    1. the moss she’s using is not spanish moss – it’s a very small plant that grows like a green fuzz on walls and rocks and sidewalk cracks.  I expect it does grow in florida if you keep an eye out for it.

      according to wikipedia, spanish moss is not a true moss, but it is an airplant (its gets nutrients from the air, not through its roots) and it can propogate vegetatively (bits of spanish moss can break off and grow into a new plant) so it might work.  It’s probably worth a try – after all, you can always wash it off if nothing happens.  You probably don’t want to blend it into a smooth paste, though – cutting it into short bits might work better.

      Let us know if it works!

  6. Pingback: DIY: Moss Graffiti | Doozgle.com

  7. Pingback: DIY: Moss Graffiti « visual robots

    1. I wouldn’t try to start moss during the winter. It might do OK if you can get it established before the first freeze and are very attentive with spritzing it, but you may be better off waiting for warmer, damper weather.

      1. Thanks for the amazing idea and post! I know others asked, but I’d love some more specifics on:
        -What kind of moss to use, how/where to get it, and in what form you throw it into the mix.
        -I’d also like to know what works the best- the beer or buttermilk?
        -And any more specific planting instructions, like when/what time of year. How much light/water it needs on a daily basis, and even how long it takes to sprout and then expand from the original shape.
        Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing back from you. Any details or info on that stuff would be much appreciated! Happy November 🙂

        -Krystal Wight Armstrong
        Cinematic Artist
        Dream | Believe | Create
        KWightArmstrong.com

        1. I’d use moss that you find in your area. Like Caitlyn says above, you want the green fuzzy find. Just scrape some into a container, and you’re ready to go.
          I’m not sure how buttermilk works. Since I’m vegan, I’ve only done moss milkshakes with beer.
          You want warm, humid weather if possible, so late spring/early summer is probably ideal.
          How long it takes to grow depends on a few factors, like how humid the air is, how much you spritz, and what kind of moss you found. It can take as little as 3 or 4 weeks or as long as 8 weeks, so be patient! 🙂

  8. Pingback: Growth «

  9. Hi there – quick question, and it may be a silly one. I’m assuming after ‘painting’ you’re spritzing the area regularly with with just the beer/sugar mixture (sans moss)? Obviously it’d have to be only on the letters, because otherwise the moss would spread…just wondering how you’d do it in the beginning since the moss wouldn’t have taken hold so quickly (might be difficult to see where to spray) – without using outlines or something.

    1. Yep! just spritz it with the water/sugar mixture. You don’t have to be super precise, but you might try to spritz just the moss. It shouldn’t spread too much. At first, you can spritz the whole area without worrying too much. Since, like you said, the moss hasn’t taken hold, it will most likely start growing where you painted it. The spreading shouldn’t be an issue so early on.

  10. Is this easy to remove? I want to try it out on the balcony of my apartment, my husband said I could if I asked the landlords. I figure they’ll want to be sure it comes off easily in order to allow it. Does it just scrape off? Is there any chance of being overcome with unwanted moss?

  11. I can’t wait to try this….but really don’t wanna put moss in my blender. Any tips on how to mix it evenly without putting it in the blender?
    Thanks

  12. How timely, I collected some moss only 5 hours ago. I intenden to keep and grow then apply to an plant pot or sculpture later on this winter. It is part of a intention to redesign my front garden. While quite wide, it fills only about 4 feet between tall house and the street. The removing and replacing plants will be expensive and lengthy. Maybe I could begin by posting a moss message saying ,”Time will tell” on the plaster wall.

  13. Pingback: Green Graffiti?? « Save the Date Products & Wedding Planning Resources for Every Bride

  14. Seriously, the one question repeated over and over, how long will it take to grow. I suppose I’ll come back and answere if mine does! I did this yesterday and as of now it looks like mud, I can’t wait for it to get green so my neighbors will stop wondering why I painted the word “wonderment” with mud on a highly visible wall!!! I painted it under a walk way to my front door but realized it does get quite a bit of sun mid day, is it neccisary to keep moist 24/7, can it be dry a few hours? I’m having trouble keeping up with that in Colorado! I was so excited to find moss here though, deep in the mountains. It’s a desert where I live!

  15. Tiffany Van Watermulen

    Okay so I think im going to try and use this technique for my wedding arrangements…. I was wondering if this would work on wood or cloth? I want to try to make an aisle runner and table runners…. what advice do you have for going about this?

  16. Pingback: Eco-Friendly Moss Graffiti « in.gredients

  17. Cathy Scholtens

    I tried this, and it has been 2 weeks, still nothing. I have been sprinking it with a fine mist sprinkler… site gets partial sun so that may be a problem. I also added some hydrating gel to the mix. I think I may have gotten it to thin. May paint over it with a better mixture.

  18. I’d like to try this. But the apartment folk would like to know if it’ll come off…does it? Can I help it come off faster?

  19. This is amazing. Who came up with this? I so curious! I think this would make a great gift for someone you love. A moss heart on an old wooden board for Valentines. 🙂

  20. Pingback: Worldly Wednesday: Moss Graffiti | Bonnie Inc. Furniture & Design

  21. can you use any kind of moss..like the stuff they sell in bags in the stores or does it have to be fresh… id love to buy some of the purple moss in a bag to do some designs but would it work

  22. Pingback: Going Green with Graffiti | The Indigo Perspective

  23. Pingback: Earth Day Crafts | Crafting a Green World

  24. Does anyone know what kind of moss should be used in a reasonably hot but humid environment such as Darwin, Australia? I’m doing a creative arts assignment on my choice of Natural graffiti art!

  25. Pingback: DIY Wedding: 55 Chalkboard Ideas for Your Wedding! | hometips.co.za

  26. Pingback: Wall of moss – sammalseinä » Lusikallinen

  27. As for removing it, my mom had good success using bleach and water in equal parts for a problem spot on our patio. One or two applications would keep it clear for a year or so.

  28. Wow what a great idea, I’m dying to try this out! One question about the removal though, does it leave a stain on the concrete wall of the text/pattern you use since concerete is a porous surface? I live on rent and don’t want to have a conversation with my landlord when I move out about why there is a permanent stain shaped in the form of an inspirational quote on the balcony wall. I guess I could blame it on ghosts but I’m not sure he’ll buy it 😉
    If anybody who has already done this would be able to help it’d be greatly appreciated!

    1. Lucinda.burris.mann1958@gmail.com

      Man vs Pin didn’t make it right plus moss like shade and the wall received some sun.

  29. Pingback: Pretty Things - Enchanted Pixie

  30. Pingback: 75 Gardening Ideas to Kickstart Your Food-Growing

  31. Pingback: 37 Fun Ways To Transform Your Backyard This Summer | Hi Cydia

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top