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

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

11. 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).

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

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

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

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

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

17. Trace around the smaller shapes with a pencil.

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

Painting the Mural Design

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

20. Pour each paint color into a plastic container.

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

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

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

Tips & Warnings

• 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.

[missforty]

on 7/17/2008 Very detailed, thanks!

[annab]

on 8/2/2007 I like how detailed your article is. I wrote: http://www.ehow.com/how_2070532_find-a-muralist.html
which seems more like how to find a muralist but it should be combined with how to paint a mural.

on 8/3/2006 Use erasable crayons instead of pencil to write on the wall. I find it easier to sketch with, since you don't have to be so careful about pressing too hard (like you would with a pencil). Erasing is also easy. Just keep a damp cloth near-by and you can erase entire sections without having to worry about a tiny eraser. It's also much easier because you can erase with your whole arm instead of your fingers and wrist.

on 11/22/2005 If you use an episcope projector instead of an overhead projector, you eliminate the need for a transparency of the design or picture you want to project. Simply place the design, picture etc., under the episcope and focus the enlarged image onto the wall. There is a portable episcope available that also can project onto a ceiling and a sloping wall. After drawing the required outlines of the image on your wall comes the painting.
Buy a large tub of white latex wall paint and divide it into smaller tubs (empty jam jars work well), depending on how many different colors you need. You will need to buy tubes of various color wall paint additives for the next step. Squeeze some color additive from a tube into one of the small tubs of white latex wall paint and mix thoroughly. Add more color slowly, mixing all the while, until the required shade of that color is reached. Do the same for your other colors. Paint the largest area of your mural first, leave to dry, continue with the next color and so on, until you end with the small details. Make sure that all your small tubs of different colors are kept airtight when not in use. If one of the colors has began to harden when you open a tub (should take a few weeks for this to happen), then add a few drops of water and mix, adding drops and mixing until paint consistency is reached. This is OK, because latex wall paint is water based.

on 11/22/2005 A lot of mural artists behave as if they were at home in their own studio. Treat your site as if you were a professional decorator, put down sheets mask off woodwork and always keep it tidy, Yours Ang McDonald of Have Paint Will Paint Murals, 07956 448 077 London.