Train Table Mat

My grandsons (one is 3 years old and the other 19 months) have a train-table, where they build legos and play with their wooden train set, and trucks, tractors etc. My son asked if I would paint a mat-covering for the table.

“Lots of animals” he said. “BUT, do not make any roads…I’m afraid that they will try to build the tracks along the painted roads and get frustrated when it becomes too difficult. We’d just like something that will be fun & easy to play on.”

It was made to fit inside the frame on the top of the table….approximately 34”x46”. It is painted on floor cloth strength canvas…hemmed on all four sides. This mat could actually be in the front hallway and walked over that’s how tuff it was made. Virtually indestructible.

see: http://canvasworksfloorcloths.com

The back ground colors are almost realistic but the animals are cartoon-like and have smiles and are dancing around. The mat is is by no mean realistic…just fun! The boys enjoy educating us on what animal is where,and what each animal is doing. But one thing they asked is : “Where’s the ocean?” (what was I thinking?…and I LOVE to draw fish! …next time.)

Below I have some photos of the progression while I was working on it. I also re-posted an older tutorial of DRAWING A TRAIN….so, at the end of this post you and your child can print the lesson out and use it to help you teach them how to draw one.

Here’s a photo of some of my paints, brushes and water bottle.