Painting Murals
For the past year and a half, I’ve been dipping my toes into the world of mural painting. Adding muralist to my resume was not necessarily in my original plan, but did I even have an original plan? Not really. Since I took the leap into becoming a full-time artist, I’ve wanted to say yes to new opportunities and ways in which to make this art career a sustainable and ever-expanding one. I’m not sure where this process will take me, but I’ve already learned so much working on murals. Here are a few tid bits I thought I’d share!
How to become a muralist:
Just paint one! I used a old moveable plywood wall in my art studio to paint my first mural. I had extra wall paint from a previous project, a few paint rollers and no plan. It honestly turned out really ugly. haha! It was SO different then my usual painting process. I couldn’t use water to create transparency without it dripping all over, it was hard to create a composition without a mock-up, and it took a lot of time and work to create something that was meh. However, the experience was fun and challenging and I wanted to get better. I got some images and posted about my learnings, and it started this fun journey into painting murals!
The second mural I painted was for a friend’s nursery. She paid for materials and lunch, and I painted. I had a slightly better plan (still no mock-up) but cranked some music, took video, and painted a layered abstract landscape in the corner of their future baby’s room. They loved it, I was happy with how it turned out, and I felt like a real muralist!
I realized I need a better plan if I wanted to keep making murals, and I invested in an iPad and Procreate. I’ve spent almost a year working on Procreate and I’m still such a novice. However, I know the basics and can create a digital rendering of a mural design. I use this to work through mural ideas, create color concepts, and to pitch options to clients.
Building a Relationship with Clients:
Murals, like a lot of other commission projects I take on, are much more client centric then my usual intuitive painting practice. There is a give and take between what the client pictures or wants and what I can provide. There are often color palettes, design elements, and even logos that are incorporated into the design, and it’s my job to 1) create a design that works well in the space and that I can complete in the allotted time/with the allotted budget 2) come up with a beautiful and eye catching color palette 3) fulfill the client’s needs for the design 4) make everyone happy (including myself)!
Different clients have different levels of flexibility, communication and involvement so each project is different and unique. It’s very important to lay out clear expectations, set a time line, and have a signed contract!
How to Get a Mural Project:
Ask around! Promote your skills and your desire to paint one! It might not happen right away, but that’s okay! I’ve had clients reach out years after their initial interest to book a project with me. Building relationships takes time, and marketing yourself and your work is all about the long game when you are an artist. Try starting local: reach out to family or friends that own small businesses, local shops, local interior design firms, etc.
My future in the Mural Biz:
Murals have become a nice compliment to the main pillar of my art business, which is abstract paintings on canvas. Ideally, I would love to paint one mural a month (got to put it out into the universe, right?)! So far, I’ve painted 10 murals this year and have assisted on a few others. It’s been such a fun way to get out into the world and work on large scale projects. The more I design and paint murals, the better and more connected to my painting practice they are. My future dream murals would include an exterior public-facing mural, painting a wedding ceremony backdrop, creating a mural in a cafe or coffee shop, and designing/painting murals in multiple rooms for a themed Airbnb (ideally in a warm location!).
Interested in a mural for your business or home? Shoot me an email! hello@ginagaetz.com