SUPPLIES
- Paintbrushes
- Paints
- Stencils
- Pencil
Overview
Murals are those large pictures that are painted on walls in cities, buildings and other locations. They can be large, grand works of art (the Sistine Chapel is a very famous mural) or more local affairs such as a local artist decorating an otherwise blank wall at a park. A muralist may well work the curve of a wall into the picture to give added depth, but regardless of the shape of the wall, the process remains the same.
Step 1
Prepare the surface with a coat of plain background paint. It may be a neutral shade such as white or may be part of the overall picture, such as blue for a sky.
Step 2
Sketch the elements that will make up the painting. Some artists do this freehand, while others may use stencils that will be taped to the wall during the steps that follow.
Step 3
Use the curve of the wall to suggest movement or provide a directional flow to the elements of the mural. On a dome ceiling, for example, the motifs could be made to look like they are rising toward the center.
Step 4
Paint in the background elements, such as mountains or trees. Background elements are painted first to give layers to the finished mural.
Step 5
Paint in the foreground elements. If steps three and four are done with stencils, these will be overlaid existing elements, and often a second coat of white is painted on first where the stencil or foreground image will be placed.
Step 6
Add surface elements to the mural, such as glitter or textures or anything three dimensional. It may also be covered with a clear finish to help preserve it against weathering.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : For the amateur muralist, it is often helpful to work in grids rather than attempt the entire process at once.
Alternatively, some murals are painted on flexible canvas and then placed up on the wall like wallpaper.
- WARNING : All artists working in an enclosed space must be sure the space is well ventilated in order to avoid the hazards of paint fumes.
Resources
