We have made trees like this in the past using chicken wire covered in burlap. Build the structure out of lumber. Then cover in chicken wire, followed by burlap for texture. Then we have used watered down glue and clothespins to create the bark texture that is sprayed onto the burlap. After that is dry, we then painted with colors depending on what your overall set design is. For Into the Woods, for example, we used purple, green, browns, black, beige, etc. to give color to the trees. In some cases we used paint brushes but in others we used spray bottles with watered down paint in a fine mist to add color.
Hope this might help a little.
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Vicki Palmer
Theatre Technical Director
Hickman High School - Home of the Kewpies
International Thespian Society Troupe #5568
MO
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