the murals of skip dyrda
SteamPunk Man-Cave
This Steampunk man‑cave on Siesta Key was a fun departure from my usual mural work. With a limited budget, I built the transformation in sections, starting with twenty‑four custom styrene panels for the backs of the two garage doors. Most featured astrological signs, while the center panel on each door had a little “speakeasy” opening that revealed painted views of Siesta Beach. I carried the same style onto ten tall bi‑fold door panels and then dressed up the wall around the breaker box with pipes, gears, gauges, and other steampunk‑inspired details. The owners later added a cuckoo clock right in the middle of it all—unexpected, but it made the space uniquely theirs. I completed the room with a 40×60‑inch steampunk painting installed on the ceiling.
In Progress and Detail Images
To get started, I first created my sketch in Photoshop and then projected that onto the wall. I rarely use a projector and typically draw freehand. I taped off the buildings and roughed in the sky.
Here’s good friend Abby Kent assisting with painting the water in front of the castle.
I’m close to being finished here…sort of. Probably lots of little details to add, including the Hidden Mickeys.
Here are two closeup photos of two Hidden Mickeys. Can you see them? There were, I think, ten total.
This is the finished ceiling mural, painted on canvas and then applied to the ceiling like wallpaper. Approximate size was 40 x 60 inches.
Sort of a messy view of most of the room. You can see 4 of the 10 bi-fold doors I created, the steampunk wall area to the right and the mural on the ceiling.