Wall Murals

Who Was That Runner?

We've all seen them. As we drive down the street we are captured by the picture on the side of a building depicting a hole, in the shape of a runner, and then on another wall there is a picture of the runner as he runs away from us. "Striking" is an understatement. Who thinks of these things?

The idea of a wall mural on the outside of a building is to draw attention to a particular business and to do so in such a way as to make it appear as though there is a scene actually opening up before your eyes. The only way to disprove the illusion is to arrive at the building and touch the walls. This is what is called a dynamic mural, or a photorealistic mural.

Creating Something Unique In Your Home

If you do not happen to own a building, you may consider putting a mural in your home. The primary considerations when deciding on an interior mural are planning where it will receive optimal exposure and where it will receive the least amount of wear and tear. Choose a place without excessive sunlight, where people are not going to be physically touching the wall (leaning against it), and where the mural will not be rubbed against by furniture or stained from water or food. Some ideas for placement could include the windowless wall of the master bedroom, a child's room, entry halls where there are neither windows nor wall hangings, a laundry alcove or a corner space in the kitchen or dining area. Garage doors and patios make great locations as well.

Got The Spot - How Do I Do This?

Once you know where you are going to place your mural, you have to get the preliminary sketch, or blueprint if you will, onto the wall. The easiest way to make sure that the drawing will work well on the wall is to choose something that has measurements that correspond. Using a 5x7 photo and transferring it to a 5-foot by 7-foot wall will usually go well. Trying to put a landscape on a long, narrow wall will be difficult unless you are able to extend the art to adjacent walls.

Use the grid method of dissecting the photo or picture you want to create and get a rough sketch of it onto the wall. In view of the reality that you are probably not Michelangelo, your drawing may be simple - and that's okay. This is where you get to use an eraser with total freedom. Start with simple shapes and work from that point. It will gradually all come together. Grids are very useful for this purpose and they work!

Some Tricks To Make Change Easy

When you come to the point of painting your artwork, choose a paint that covers easily in the event you tire of your masterpiece. There is a secret to painting a mural in your home. Choose the same type of paint that you used to paint the wall in the first place. So, if you chose a satin finish to paint the wall-use a satin finish to paint the mural.

Good, strong brushes are a must because they will need to withstand numerous cleanings. You will need several different types of brushes, from broad to flat, round, and even pointed (for detail work.) Talk with the people in your local art store to find out what other items you may need for a project like this.

Painting a mural is a huge project, but it is one that, once finished, not only enhances your space, but builds your confidence as well.