How to Do Fresco Paintings

Fresco painting is a mural technique that has been around for centuries.

Freso painting is a mural technique created by painting on wet plaster. Applying the plaster base is the hardest part of creating a fresco. Fresco painting was done a lot during the Renaissance but was also a technique used by great muralists such as Diego Rivera. It is important to have a clear outline of what your fresco will look like before you begin as the medium is not very forgiving.

Things You'll Need

• Plaster
• Tracing paper
• Sketch of planned mural
• Paintbrushes
• Paint
• Tape
• Pattern-making wheel
• Charcoal dust or chalk
• Containers for mixing paint

Instructions

1. Mix and apply plaster to the area designated for the mural.

2. Wrap tracing paper around the palm of your hand and smooth any uneven areas in the wet plaster.

3. Roll the pattern-making wheel along the outlines on the sketch of the planned mural. Tape the sketch to the plaster and dust with charcoal dust or chalk to transfer the sketch.

4. Tap the transferred charcoal or chalk line with the blunt end of the paintbrush to press the lines of the mural into the plaster.

5. Mix the paint colors needed in the containers. Using the sketch of the mural as a guide, paint your first layer of color with a damp brush.

6. Add another layer of paint with a dry brush. Tap the paint brush on the fresco surface to push the paint into the plaster.

7. Add a second coat of plaster. Add a third layer of paint.

8. Tape of another area of the mural to be painted. Repeat steps 1 through 8 until the fresco is complete.

9. Let fresco dry for four weeks. Begin touch-ups.

References

• The Art and Nature of Fresco Painting: The Art of Fresco: Painting Techniques; Sr. Lucia Wiley, CHS