You might have seen some beautiful works of art in old cathedrals and palaces around the world. These works of art would have been paintings on walls or even on ceilings and would have made you feel like you were standing in another world, that of bygone days. The paintings that are done on ceilings and walls are called murals. In modern times, murals are still popular and follow many styles and techniques. Some popular styles are fresco painting (painting on wet plaster of walls and ceilings), secco painting (painting on dry plaster and binding paint with glue) and mezzo-fresco painting (painting on partially dry plaster). While painting murals takes a lot of time and effort, it is by no means limited to the renowned artists. Murals can be painted even by a nonprofessional, who has basic knowledge of the art. If you wish to paint a mural, follow the tips below to know how to produce a work of art that will last for years to come.
Painting Wall Murals
- The first thing that you need to do is to plan the details of your mural-painting project. You will need to finalize on the location of the mural, the type of paint you plan to use, the quantity of paint and the method of application. Paints are sensitive to natural elements and therefore need to be protected. Plan how you are going to protect your project.
- Choose a design for the project and plan the color scheme that you will use. There are unique elements and requirements for different types of paintings, such as portraits and landscape scenes. You will need to analyze the requirements of the design.
- Try to create a scaled-down version of how the mural would look once you have finished with it and measure its key features. This will help you calculate the amount of paint that you will need for panting the mural on a larger scale.
- If you are going to paint on the upper part of a high wall or a ceiling, get a stepladder or rent an aerial lift.
- Prime the surface on which you are going to paint. Measure the location where the mural is going to be and mark off specific features. For example, if you are going to paint a horizon, you can mark off a dividing line between the sky and the land.
- Paint a base coat on the surface, with the color depending on what you are painting. For example, if you are painting the landscape of a summer scene, the sky would be pale blue and the foreground will be green.
- Once the base colors dry, you can start plotting the elements and objects that will be seen in the foreground. If you are a good artist, you can even sketch the entire lot of objects freehand.
- Start painting from the back of the picture to the front, since this will enable you to make the transition between colors smooth. Apart from this, you will also be able to correct mistakes much easily. Always ensure that the first color dries before you move on to the next one, unless you need to blend the two shades.
- You can now add in details to different objects. For example, if you are painting a tree, the trunk and large branches can be painted with a roller or sprayer and small branches and twigs can be defined with smaller brushes.
- Clean up any drips or runs with the appropriate paints and sharpen any blurred lines that need to be seen. Add shadows or highlights, if needed.
- Use a clear sealer over the entire project, once the paint is dry. This will ensure that your mural lasts for a long time.