Obviously the first thing you need to do is figure out what to paint on the wall. When I know what I want to paint, I typically follow that up by finding different representations, photos, drawings to use as a reference, or by going to a location to take some pictures that I can use as a model. For example, if I wanted to paint a seascape, I might drive around the beach area where I look for objects or scenery I want to include in my painting. Most times I am piecing together a scene to create my mural.
Once you have what
you need to put together your scene, painting the background first is
essential. I start at the top and work my way down. So, I lay down the sky
first, then the horizon, where I may have mountains, trees, water or land.
After I have my background in, I will place my other objects, such as people,
cars, roads or whatever the subject may be. Sometimes I hand paint in these
objects and sometimes I may use a projector first to cast the image on the
wall, trace it out and then hand paint it. A projector is very helpful to
maintain the correct proportions and to help in placement of the object.
You may be
wondering what medium to use on a wall. I use a mixture of acrylic paint that
you can buy in any craft or art supply store and also latex paint that you
would purchase by the gallon in a paint or hardware store. Both of these
mediums dry quickly and clean up easily with water. Also, acrylic paint has no
fumes so working with it will not bother you during the process. I typically
purchase a gallon of extra bright white paint that I mix with the acrylic
colours. This will stretch your dollar, because purchasing small tubes of
acrylic paint alone can add up quickly especially if you are painting a large
area.
Once you have
finished your mural, I suggest painting a clear coat of polyurethane over it to
protect it. Look for a coating that will not yellow with age. The clear coating
allows clean-up in case of dirt or fingerprints.
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