Create -Scale Murals Public Spaces

What could be more thrilling for an artist than to see their work displayed on a massive canvas, for an entire community to admire? A successful muralist is a fine artist, but also an individual who has a keen sense of scale and dimension. Expand your dream by learning what it takes to be a muralist.

Muralists arefine art painters . A muralist paints or applies art directly onto walls and/or ceilings, and other large surfaces, often incorporating the architectural elements of a space into the design. Sometimes a muralist will paint directly on a canvas, which is then affixed or cemented to a wall. From the cave paintings at La Marche, in Lussac-les-Châteaux, France to modern street murals in Philadelphia and New York City, muralists have left signs of their art in many places and on many surfaces around the world.

Unlike miniature or even life-size paintings, murals are usually many times larger than life. The word “mural” originates from the Latin word “murus” which means wall. A mural can be decorative, such as a landscape or portrait, or functional, such as a company logo or advertisement. Murals are also culturally and politically important and often used to express individual or social experiences and concerns.

Muralists use a wide assortment of media, like acrylic or oil paint and faux finishes, and create artwork using a variety of techniques. For example, a fresco painting is a method where the paint is applied on plaster on walls or ceilings. Mezzo-fresco, used by Michelangelo, is painted on almost-dry plaster, whereas fresco-secco painting is done on dry plaster.

Today, muralists are also sometimes referred to as street artists, although many professional muralists refuse to honor street art (graffiti and aerosol) as real art, calling it vandalism and an eyesore. However, as the definition of a mural is a large picture painted or affixed to a wall or ceiling, street graffiti artists , like David Wojnarowicz and Keith Banksy, also hold a growing standing in this art field.

Muralists must have a good sense of scale, ensuring all aspects of their artwork work together into one cohesive mural. Besides the technical issues posed by painting or affixing art to a wall or ceiling, there are other artistic issues to overcome. For instance, a muralist must consider what the artwork will look like from all viewpoints. Perspective can be an issue;

whereas canvases are hung at eye level, a mural must have the correct perspective from all angles. Glare can be an issue, as can the sun, so choosing the correct paint(s) is important, as is color and preparation of the surface. In addition, as murals must suit the environment and surroundings, muralists must also work around, under or above objects or furnishings.

Muralists must be persistent, as many murals take days, months, or even years to complete. The must pay close attention to even the smallest of details, work independently or as part of a team, have excellent artistic skills, like sketching, rendering, application, and color mixing. They must be skilled in the techniques of ragging, wood graining, marbling, and texturing, and have a complete understanding of art history, motifs, and architecture.

Muralists must be able to interpret a client’s needs and wants, take small-scale designs and develop them into large-scale murals, and work to a deadline when necessary. Sometimes muralists work outdoors and must plan ahead for rain, cold or summer heat. They must be cognizant of their surroundings and do what they can to not disrupt sidewalks or pedestrian walkways.

In addition, muralists must keep up-to-date on the latest techniques and materials so they can recommend new and different finishes or patterns to clients. While a degree is not required, choosing to earn a degree can help muralists stay on top of current trends while sharpening their skills and artistic ability.

For these reasons, many muralists attend college and earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in fine art (BFA) . Some students don’t enter an art program specifically to become a muralist but decide to enter this career field after taking…