Wall mural on a wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Painting wall murals for clients can be a challenge for any artist because the size of the project is often much larger than a normal canvas. To achieve a successful wall mural, you must prepare the surface, plan the composition, gather the materials and decide the best way to take your ideas from the sketchbook to the wall.
Preparing and Planning
You have three considerations before beginning your wall mural project. The first thing is the composition of the mural since your subject is often provided by your client. Go to the site and note any imperfections on the wall that you will need to work around. Pipes, electrical outlets, electric meters and fire escapes can all be obstacles that you will need to work into your plan. See if you can paint over the object or somehow make the object part of the painting.
The second consideration involves getting your ideas on the wall successfully. Some artists use freehand to paint an outline of their idea and work from there. You may find it useful to use an art projector to magnify a smaller drawing of your idea onto the wall while you paint.
Finally, before you can lay any paint down, you must clean and prepare the area. Large buildings will need pressure-washing to remove any grime that may keep the paint from adhering. You can clean interior walls with a gentle, all-purpose cleaning spray. Remove any cleaning residue before painting.
Wall Mural Materials
The proper supplies are essential to making the wall mural last for years to come. If your mural is outdoors, choose an exterior paint. If you are painting indoors choose an interior paint. You may like oil-based paints for their rich, lush texture, but you may want water-based paints for their easy cleanup. On larger murals, choose large synthetic brushes for your detail work. On smaller murals you may be able to use fine art brushes if there isn't too much area to fill in.
Also, plan how you will reach high areas with ease. Scaffolding is the best choice for larger, outdoor wall murals. For large, indoor walls, you may want to invest in a ladder that folds into a miniature scaffolding. These are sold in most home-improvement stores.
