Mural, Mural, On The Wall

[jufergu]

So, I am learning how to paint a mural onto a wall. Simple cartoon character types that are 4 feet high. This is for a wall in a Catholic Monestary, that held the Carmelite Nuns for many years. I am not Catholic, but it is a good cause as a refuge for pregnant mothers who are in a crises situation. The nuns are all gone now, and this building is in bad repair. So, they want to make it more cheerful and do a lot of cosmetic work. Mothers and children will live there for about a year.

I talked to a paint business in town and he told me how to prepare these concrete block walls that have been freshly painted with a high gloss acrylic paint. I have drawn a large grid on contractors paper and am drawing my cartoons in scale. But, now I have to get my husband involved to get a chalk line grid onto this wall, 4 feet high and about 15 feet long. He is going to use the laser light to shoot a line. I have never done this before, so I am really just doing trial and error. Has anyone tried to paint on this kind of surface with acrylics? I plan to use Gesso as a base coat.

[lyn]

Sorry Judy, I can't help at all!

Just wanted to say that it sounds like a fun and worthwhile project and I'd love to see a photo when you've finished.

[Shepherdess]

It does sound like a good cause Judy. Will you have to paint the whole thing yourself or will you get some help? sounds like a good project for some local art students to get involved in. Up here every student needs 40 hours of volunteer time to graduate.

[jufergu]

There will be a lot of students there cleaning up and they have been painting the whole place. There are people coming to even work outside. I have another artist who has volunteered to help me, but she has not ever done this either. I seem to be the leader here. Sort of "the blind, leading the blind." My husband has volunteered to help me put a chalk grid on the wall using a laser level. I made a pattern out of contractor's paper that comes on a roll. I put registration marks for every one foot of grid. If I can get a grid on that wall, I think I can transfer my drawings. I have to put gesso on the shapes, before I paint them. This will be an ongoing project, I'm sure. I will let you know how it goes and try to get some photos. Although I can never get photos on this forum. I will put them on my blog. Who said it, "you are never too old to learn new things?"

[MTRuth]

It sounds like a fun project. I've never built a yurt before but I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. You seem to have it under control. I've never painted murals before either. We'd love to see photos. If you want to e-mail me some photos or put them on Facebook Judy, I can put them up for you here on the forum.

[koffipot]

Many years ago I painted a mural for my children. It was a pretty simple affair and money was tight, so I begged anyone's left over coloured paint dregs, then when I was really stuck for colour I added food colouring! I don't think you could buy those little sample pots back then.

My daughter, who is much more artistic than I designed and painted a "magic forest" for one of her friends. She used emulsion paint too and those little pots for details. She gridded the design and the wall as you are planning to do. A laser level will be perfect to get your chalk grid on.

It's going to be fun, do let us see some pics.