How to Create a Trompe L'oeil

Trompe l’oeil is a French phrase meaning “trick the eye.” In decorative painting, the phrase may be applied to virtually any mural that creates a realistic-looking three-dimensional effect. However, the most popular application is a mural of a wall niche that contains wine bottles, flowers or other decorative items.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Transparency sheet
• Joint compound
• Putty knife
• Paint scraper
• Interior primer
• Paint brushes
• Flat or eggshell latex enamel paint in your choice of colors
• Art projector
• Soft artist's pencil
• Glaze
• Sea sponge
• Artist's brushes

Instructions

1. Sketch a design on a sheet of paper. The design should include a curved wall niche and the items that will sit within the niche. If your drawing skills are not the best, use a piece of graph paper to lay out the design. Proportion is more important than precise representation. The wine bottles or flowers should be nearly as tall as the wall niche but maintain a realistic height-to-width ratio. Include details in the drawing, such as labels on wine bottles.

2. Make a black-and-white copy of your drawing and transfer it onto a transparency sheet. You can do this yourself by scanning the drawing into your computer or have it done at any copy shop.

3. Prepare the wall. Patch holes, remove flaking or peeling paint and add a thick layer of primer. Allow to dry overnight. Paint a background color using flat or eggshell latex enamel paint. Light colors are best but avoid stark white, which will highlight any imperfections in your trompe l’oeil. Consider a soft color wash or other subtle faux finish for a more realistic effect.

4. Project the trompe l’oeil sketch onto the wall using a projector. Any projector will suffice, although many professional muralists prefer portable art projectors, which are easy to carry and set up. Adjust the image until you are comfortable with the size and placement.

5. Use a soft artist’s pencil to trace the drawing onto the wall. Trace all details, including bottle labels and the edges of the niche.

6. Create shadows and highlights. Step back and look at the way that light hits the wall. Mix brown paint with glaze according to the glaze manufacturer’s instructions. Use a sea sponge to lightly apply background shadows in the direction that they would naturally occur. Add a bit of gray to the mixture for darker shadows, such as those in the corner of the niche that is furthest from the light source. Use an artist’s brush to dab white paint in areas that the light hits most strongly. Slowly build up the outside edges and background of the niche using shadows and highlights rather than harsh lines.

7. Paint the foreground objects. Mix each paint color with glaze and use an artist’s brush to gently apply the paint. Work slowly but steadily and step back frequently to judge your progress. Paint the fine details such as lettering last. Do not let the paint fully dry during the process.

8. Allow the trompe l’oeil to cure for at least three days before allowing furniture or other objects to touch the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Build up the trompe l’oeil in thin layers. Thick paint can appear gloppy and may run or drip.

References

• Creative Evolution: Painting a Wine Mural

Resources

• Wall Murals 1-2-3: Painting Wall Murals--Projector Method