Murals are a kind of painting in which the paint is applied directly on the walls or ceiling. There are many different techniques for painting murals.
You must all be familiar with murals―the most famous is the one Michelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Murals are in vogue once more, and are a very good interior decorating idea for modern homes and offices. A beautiful mural can become the focal point of a room, and can turn a drab room into a fabulous one. Mural painting can also be used to create a faux finish, and can be used to camouflage certain structural flaws in the building. To paint a mural yourself might seem like an intimidating project, but with a bit of creativity and patience, you can create your own.
Mural Painting for Beginners
The first step is to choose the subject and design that you want to paint. This will, of course, depend upon where you are painting. If you are painting it in the living room, then you will need to choose a subject or theme that is appropriate for that room. You can opt for a beautiful scenery with colors that will match the decor and furniture of your room. For the bedroom, you can be bolder with the subject and have fun experimenting with different techniques. Murals are also a great idea for decorating kids’ rooms, as you can paint their favorite cartoon characters, as well as opt for more whimsical designs like fairies and goblins.
The next step is to prepare the wall or the ceiling on which you are going to paint. Take a clean piece of cloth and moisten it slightly. Wipe the area of the wall with it to remove all traces of dust and grime, and allow it to dry. If you find that there is a visible variation of color on the wall, it is a good idea to apply a coat of paint or primer.
If you are a beginner, then it is strongly recommended that you take up a simple design. Remove all furniture from the vicinity of the wall, and cover the floor with old newspapers. The best paints are those that are water soluble and quick drying. Both acrylic paints and oil paints fall under this category, although it is easier to work with acrylic paints. Use good quality acrylic paints and purchase several brushes like a wide, flat brush for filling larger areas, and a fine brush for more detailed work.
Now, all you need to do is start painting. For this, you can start directly painting the outline on the wall, or first draw it with a soft pencil. The advantage of drawing the outline with a pencil is that you can erase and rectify the mistakes. After you have finished sketching the entire wall, use the flat wide paint brush to apply acrylic paint on the mural, and finish the entire mural in this way. For sealing, you need to apply a coat of varnish to protect it. For outdoor mural painting, you need to follow the same procedure, but you need to purchase paints that are specially formulated not to fade in the sun.
Try shading the mural to create a sense of depth and a three dimensional effect. Start painting from the upper left hand side corner of the wall to the lower left hand side corner so as not to disturb the paint. Once you are comfortable painting a simple pattern, you can experiment with different techniques.