How to Paint a Wall Mural

Painting a mural can prove an exciting way to decorate a room and really add a certain "je ne sais quoi" to an otherwise bland look. Once you've transferred the design to the wall - using an overhead projector, a grid or freehand drawing - the rest is easy.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Yardsticks
• Drawing Software
• Drawing Supplies
• Masking Tape
• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Scissors
• Plastic Containers
• Transparencies
• Butcher Papers
• Overhead Projectors
• Acrylic Paints
• Photocopy Or Printed Images
• Pencils

Using an Overhead Projector to Transfer the Mural Design

1. Select a design that you'd like to paint on your wall. The design can be one you've drawn yourself or one you've found on a greeting card, in a coloring book or from another source.

2. Make a color copy of the image you've selected to use as a reference when you're painting.

3. Make a black-and-white photocopy of the image. Use the copy machine to enlarge the image to a size at which you can easily see all the details.

4. Make a black-and-white transparency of your design. Ask the clerk at the copy store to help you.

5. Place the transparency on an overhead projector.

6. Turn the projector on and project the design onto the desired wall area.

7. Move the projector closer to or farther from the wall until the design is positioned correctly and is the desired size.

8. Mark the position of the projector on the floor with masking tape in case you need to move the projector before you've finished transferring the design.

9. Outline the design on the wall carefully with pencil.

Using a Grid to Transfer the Mural Design

1. Select and prepare your mural design, following steps 1 through 3 above.

2. Draw a grid over the photocopy of your design and enlarge it onto a piece of butcher paper (see "How to Enlarge a Drawing Using a Grid," under Related eHows).

3. Cut each image in the design out of the butcher paper with scissors, beginning with the largest.

4. Use masking tape to fasten the cut paper images to the wall in the desired location.

5. Trace around each paper image carefully with a pencil.

6. Cut out any shapes that are inside the large paper images: a butterfly's spots or windows on a bus, for example.

7. Tape these smaller shapes in the appropriate locations inside the larger outlines.

8. Trace around the smaller shapes with a pencil.

9. Sketch in additional details, referring to the photocopy of your design.

Painting the Mural Design

1. Select acrylic paint colors for your mural by referring to the color copy of your design.

2. Pour each paint color into a plastic container.

3. Use a wide, flat paintbrush to paint in the large areas of your design first.

4. Blend and shade colors by painting one color on top of another before the bottom color has had a chance to dry.

5. Use a round paintbrush to add details and outline images.

Tips & Warnings

• This is the simplest way to transfer the design to the wall surface.

• Select a simple design with a limited number of colors if this is your first mural.

• If you don't have access to an overhead projector, ask your friends. Teachers or others who do visual presentations at work may be able to borrow a projector for you to use.

• If you're planning to paint your design with light colors, use a light-colored pencil to transfer it to the wall. Black pencil lines may show through.

• You can draw the grid and enlarge your design directly on the wall surface if your mural design completely covers the wall area with paint.

• Interior latex paint can be used for painting large areas of color.

• Because acrylic paints tend to be slightly transparent, it may take more than one coat to get the desired tint.

• Position the overhead projector squarely in front of the wall. If it's angled to one side or the other, it will distort the projected image.

• Make sure the image you're using doesn't have a copyright. Copy stores will not allow you to photocopy copyrighted images.