Feb 186 min read

10 Tips For Better Murals

Use these 10 tips to ensure your mural comes out great every time.

When I first started painting, there was SO much I didn’t know. It actually kind of blows my mind how some of my murals came out as good as they did seeing how much I didn’t know about supplies and techniques.

Pixabay.com

It would take me all day to name all of the ways I could have done a mural better but for now I’ll start with some basic tips:

Practice
Using a reference
Projector and grids
Painting your custom style
Studying other artists
Being prepared
Understanding proportion
Knowing detail
Creating depth
Using the right paint

Practice

Now I hope none of you are creating your first mural without ever drawing anything in your life. If you are, more props to you but please consider a practice run.

Having practice not only keeps you inspired and motivated to create but it also makes you a better artist in the long run. As much as I hated having assignments all of the time in college it trained me to be a great artist. There were times where I had to draw out 30 animals, illustrate the anatomy of the body, I even had to make a kite once. All these assignments were a pain at the time but they kept me learning. As well as keeping my mind flowing with ideas constantly.

The evolution of my sea turtles due to practice.

Using a Reference

I was I reminded of this step by every professor I had in college. In honestly don’t even really know what half of my murals would have looked like in the end if I didn’t have a reference to look at.

In addition to having a reference, make sure it is a photograph reference. I’ve learned over the years that using another painting or drawing as a reference forces you to have less detail in your painting. Not only is the original artist probably not getting every detail from their reference but then you’re not as well by copying it.

Projectors & Grids

These I’ve come to learn are absolute life savers. These methods not only make your image come out perfect on the wall but it cuts your time painting in half.

It’s a lot less time consuming to use a projector rather than drawing out a square or doodle grid. The only downside about using a projector is that you can only use it at night if your mural is going to be outside and you can only use them in some circumstances.

Grids I will only used if the image is too large for my projector, I can’t fit the projector into the area I’m painting, or its a risky “off the wall” (literally) crazy surface.

Your Own Style

Paint what you’re good at! If your client wants you to paint a portrait of someone but it’s always where you failed as an artist then don’t take that job on. Paint things you’re good at painting so you know you won’t be costing anyone time or money.

OR if you want, be like me and challenge yourself to learn. Practice, use a projector, work on it until it’s perfect and never look back. Do this ESPECIALLY if you’re trying to get a business up and running and want to have experience in all areas. You can’t be a master if you don’t challenge yourself to do the things you’re too scared to do. And you’ll never get better or know how to do something if you don’t teach yourself. These skills won’t come to you by just looking pretty.

Mural by Summer DeSalvo 2021 (I can do this way better now since I’ve had so much practice!)

Studying Other Artists

One of the best ways to learn how to grow your business is by looking at your competition. Go see what they’re doing right as to how they’re succeeding and go try it out for yourself.

Watch tutorials of artists painting murals. I myself offer private lessons online and tutorials you can purchase. Feel free to email me at summadaze13@gmail.com if that is something you’re interested in! I know I’m also not the only person who does this. Search around and find an artist that fits your style.

Being Prepared

It’s kind of hard to succeed with painting a mural if you’re not prepared. It is necessary to not only be prepared with paint and supplies but also with your legalities as well. I have an article about the “Legalities Behind Painting Murals” you can read if you’d like to know more.

It is important to have all your ducks in a row so you don’t run into problems during your commission or down the road. I make sure that I have everything I need at least a week before the job so that if I’m missing something I have time to grab it before starting.

On my blog site I offer a downloadable packet that has multiple checklists, templates, and supply lists so that you go into your business prepared. There are even steps on how to make a “perfect website”. If you want to use them as a helping hand I’ll include the link.

Printable Packet

Understanding Proportion

Knowing how to proportion your mural can make a huge difference in the results. It isn’t uncommon that proportions start to get distorted on large surfaces. It can be very difficult to be able to get sizing perfect sometimes, especially if you’re just starting out.

This is another great opportunity to use a projector or grid. That way you know it’ll come out perfect every time.

Another important tip to remember when painting things to proportion or just in general is to step back. Stepping back from your painting to see it from a different view makes a huge difference. It may seem one way up close but then you’ll step back and it’s definitely not what it looked like.

Proportion by Pixabay.com

Detail

Knowing how to add detail to paintings will make you a better muralist. The more detail, the more of a “wow” factor. Let alone it pulls a painting together. You don’t want your painting to look like a sticker with minimum work done to it. The people like detail!

Less detail, the less you are able to charge as well. More detail calls for more money, more impressions, and an overall better painting.

Depth

Depth goes hand and hand with proportions and detail. If you have all three of these then prepare yourself to have a steady income painting murals. Depth creates forms, movement, and distance in a painting. Depth is a friend of contrast and with them both you can create something 3-dimensional.

Example of contrast and depth in one image. Pixabay.com

The Right Paint

Using the right paint is important if you want your murals to last a long time.

When I first started I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be using my Liquidex paint from Michaels or what to use. All I knew is that I needed a lot of it.

Go to a paint store, ask for advice on finishes and sizes for your project if you aren’t sure. They’re supposed to be able to lead you in the right direction so hopefully you run across an expert running the paint department.

Pixabay.com

Don’t ever use interior paint outside. I also wouldn’t recommend anything except house paint. It lasts the longest and is the most affordable for the amount you get.

With all of these tips in mind, you’re bound to have a successful business painting murals.

For more tips on how to paint murals or how to build a business from it, join my email list below. By subscribing to my email list you have the opportunity for painting tutorials, free painting giveaways every month, and free information at your hands whenever you need it!

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