| Obviously the first thing you need to do is | | | | proportions and to help in placement of the |
| figure out what to paint on the wall. When I | | | | object. |
| know what I want to paint, I typically follow | | | | |
| that up by finding different representations, | | | | You may be wondering what medium to use on a |
| photos, drawings to use as a reference, or by | | | | wall. I use a mixture of acrylic paint that |
| going to a location to take some pictures | | | | you can buy in any craft or art supply store |
| that I can use as a model. For example, if I | | | | and also latex paint that you would purchase |
| wanted to paint a seascape I might drive | | | | by the gallon in a paint or hardware store. |
| around the beach area where I look for | | | | Both of these mediums dry quickly and clean |
| objects or scenery I want to include in my | | | | up easily with water. Also, acrylic paint has |
| painting. Most times I am piecing together a | | | | no fumes so working with it will not bother |
| scene to create my mural. | | | | you during the process. I typically purchase |
| | | | a gallon of extra bright white paint that I |
| Once you have what you need to put together | | | | mix with the acrylic colors. This will |
| your scene, painting the background first is | | | | stretch your dollar, because purchasing small |
| essential. I start at the top and work my way | | | | tubes of acrylic paint alone can add up |
| down. So I lay down the sky first, then the | | | | quickly especially if you are painting a |
| horizon, where I may have mountains, trees, | | | | large area. |
| water or land. After I have my background in | | | | |
| I will place my other objects, such as | | | | Once you have finished your mural, I suggest |
| people, cars, roads or whatever the subject | | | | painting a clear coat of polyeurothane over |
| may be. Sometimes I hand paint in these | | | | it to protect it. Look for a coating that |
| objects and sometimes I may use a projector | | | | will not yellow with age. The clear coating |
| first to cast the image on the wall, trace it | | | | allows cleanup in case of dirt or |
| out and then hand paint it. A projector is | | | | fingerprints. |
| very helpful to maintain the correct | | | | |