Do you have a wall in your home that just screams for a dramatic embellishment?
Consider doing a mural to make a truly artistic statement.
In past centuries, murals were the ultimate artistic expression and highly regarded.
Today, manufacturers offer wall-sized graphics that are applied like wallpaper. Why not do it yourself and create a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork that is sure to be a conversation piece in your home.
Gear Up For A Big Project
Typically, painting a wall mural isn’t a weekend project. This is the kind of venture that will take time and dedication. You need stamina, enthusiasm and a passion for your subject, as you’ll be spending a lot of time with it now and into the future.
You don’t need any special skills other than those you’ve learned as an art student. You’ll just be applying them in a larger arena for a longer time. Don’t be overwhelmed; just take the mural piece by piece and suddenly it’s not such a monumental endeavor.
Prepare Your Wall For Painting
If your wall is in need of paint, consider giving the room a fresh coat of your favorite house paint. This is doubly important if there are discolorations or other color variances.
If you’re not planning to paint before creating your mural, then make sure the wall is clean. Use cleaner and water to remove soil, grease and dirt. Allow the wall to dry thoroughly before starting to paint.
Transfer your Design To The Wall
If you’re accustomed to sketching and can handle the large scale, you can certainly can go ahead and make your drawing directly on the wall. At this point, you’re not concerned with too much detail. You’re just getting the main shapes in the right proportions.
If this is a bit overwhelming, the easiest way is to use the grid method to convert your small sketch into a wall-covering design. Your sketch paper should have the same basic proportions as your wall.
Draw a one-inch grid on your sketch and draw a one foot grid on the wall. Colored chalk makes a visible line and is easily removed once you’ve copied your design to the wall. Use the grid as a guide to draw your design on the wall.
Choose The Proper Paint
If your wall is across from a window and will be exposed to a lot of direct sunlight, you should use paint that has high lightfastness to avoid sun damage and fading. If this proves too costly, use the UV rated paints for details and the uppermost layers of the painting.
The budget conscious can use household paint, but make sure it’s not gloss finish, as the light will cause too much glare. Choose satin or matte finish for your painting for the best results.
When your painting is complete, you may choose to give it a final coat of a satin clear coat that doesn’t yellow. This will protect the piece against dirty fingers and air-borne grime.
Tips For Painting A Wall Mural
- Step away from your work regularly. You need to be able to see the big picture and see it from the distance that viewers will see it.
- Refer to your sketch often to ensure your proportions, shading and highlights are what you intended.
- Use a minimal palette and make up adequate amounts of colors. You can store your mixtures in containers that have secure, airproof lids.
- Don’t use cheap brushes. Spring for decent quality brushes. Your work will proceed much easier with good equipment.
Enjoy your painting! :)
