Re: Anyone ever done murals??

by Freckles on Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:01 am

I've been thinking about doing a mural in my room as well. Can you guys tell me how to prep the wall? It's of course sheetrock and my room is painted with water based paint and bathroom with oil base paint. Is there different prep work that needs to be done? I'm not sure if I'm going to airbrush or use brushes does it make a difference on the prepping?

by Shannon Fennell on Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:12 am

When I did a mural in our bathroom... I just washed the painted wall down with a damp towel, wiped it dry... then painted it with artist's acrylics. No problem!! The acrylics work great and are water resistant when dry...

All the murals in homes that I've seen are done in artist's acrylics. I don't think it matters much what is already painted on the wall.

by modernmagik on Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:19 am

If your room is painted with a glossy finish, you may want to lightly sand over the area you are planning to paint to rough up the surface a little, then wipe it nice and clean of dust and debris.....then continue on and make your mural with acrylics or water based latex paints.

by Freckles on Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:05 pm

Thank you both I will post pics when finished. I'm into fairies and one stroke flowers and vines. I also have a new grand baby so maybe a cartoonish mural for her room. Yay!!!

by squiggle on Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:26 pm

I'd love to see pics when you've finished!

I did a "Disney" mural in my son's room when he was born- he's now 20 and it's still on the wall. The acrylic paint has really held up all these years. I've been tempted to paint over it many times but it's so colorful and cheerful and my kids love it (even though they're all teenagers now!) that I just don't have the heart to paint over it! It's now my daughter's room and she has her bunk beds up against it so I don't think she even notices it anymore.

This is the only pic I've ever taken of it- back when my son was a baby. The mural actually extends over the entire wall- 8' high and 14' long and has just about every Disney character there is in a wooded setting. It was my first attempt at painting so don't laugh! LOL (And that line going through the picture was because the picture was torn and we taped it back together before we scanned it!)

by modernmagik on Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:50 pm

It looks GORGEOUS

by WyndyO on Sat Dec 19, 2009 1:34 am

That is a huge endeavor for a "first" painting project. I did one in my youngest daughter's room - an ivy border. It looks pretty good......considering I was on a ladder 8 months pregnant!!! It is still up and I also used the artist's acrylic paints. Very easy to use!!! It is also nice that you can wipe off your mistakes with a damp cloth if the paint is still wet. I also did a bed frame with a faux granite finish with a sponge and 3 colors. The granite "look" is also very useful if you use on your styrofoam grave stones for Halloween yard decoration!!!

by MandiIlene on Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:23 pm

Yep, I have have painted a few murals over the years, since I was 17. Face Painting for only 3 years now. Here is my little postcard size with some pics. I know I do cartoons well and I try to stick to it for charging full price customers. I start at $250 for about a 3x4 ft image on the wall and add more to it depending on my time. I try to keep it at the same rate I facepaint at $75 an hour. I use acrylics (99 cents a bottle), make sure to coat it with a good clear jesso and you are good to go. I freehand them all from reference books, printouts, coloring pages, etc. I did a huge DISNEY one too when my daughter was little, I never finshed the whole thing, it took up an entire wall and next corner wall.

The face cartoon was to display permanent makeup in a salon.

~*~Mandi~*~

by Ashley Pickin on Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:15 pm

I do murals... I really enjoy them, though they can be a lot of work. I did a large 8'x14' wall this year and I charged $375... I should have charged more.. I was worn out after the two days that it took me to finish it!

I also did a fairy kingdom in a friend's daughter's room.. I did that one for free.. and I'm still working on it in my spare time.

Only those two for this year though! I try to stick to think that I know.. like cartoons and pretty things.... or really scary looking stuff.

Here is a pic of the jungle mural from May-

by modernmagik on Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:16 am

I LOVE that one Ash.....it is so colorful, whimsical and FUN!!!!

by Freckles on Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:59 pm

Such talent.... thank you all for sharing. I am so inspired now! I went out and bought an opaque projector from the local art supply store. The cost $80, I wanted the $200 one but maybe later.

I promise to post pics soon Smile

by Fanie on Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:36 pm

Wow, Ashley, your mural is so nice! Is it airbrushed?

Here's a link to my Flickr gallery to the Jungle mural I did:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fanieart/sets/72157611870266591/

I was wondering the same thing as I may do another mural during January. :-/ Last time, I did an exchange of service. But I need to charge for the next one.

by eva on Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:58 pm

Here I will finally post it

by eva on Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:07 am

by eva on Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:08 am