As an Australian, you have probably stumbled upon many murals on the streets of Australia. Passing through one of these streets, have you too thought of experimenting with mural paints on one of your walls at home?
Australian cities are full of artistic graffiti and murals that reflect the creative side of Australia.
You can derive inspiration from any murals that adorn the city you reside. You can plan a perfect weekend full of fun and colours.
But starting, here are a few tricks to have up your sleeves before getting started with mural painting:
Clean the wall you want to paint
Before starting, choose a wall with no discrepancies, such as moisture damage, creeks, and cracks. Then after selecting a wall, closely look for any signs of wax, dirt, or fungus. If you find any mould, call professionals to take care of it. Make sure you clean it up in case of dirt or wax.
Even if the wall is devoid of fundamental problems, you can start by cleaning it up anyway with a mild soap containing trisodium phosphate to ensure it’s spotless.
Priming your wall
If you want the painting to stick to the wall easily, it is vital to prime the wall first.
Avoid buying the regular acrylic primes used for the painting; buy something available in bulk for home improvements from DIY stores. You can apply a thin coat of acrylic primer after the wall has completely dried off from the cleaning.
Techniques of mural painting
There are various styles and techniques of mural painting you can choose from:
Sponging
If your mural is going to be scenic and full of clouds, trees, and sky, then sponging is the best technique to go for. It’ll make it easier for you to get the right designs and textures.
Antiquing
One of the most straightforward techniques is antiquing; all you have to do is mix some colours of your choice, such as Sepia, Siena, grey, dark yellow, and other antiques for a perfect old vibe. Paint the wall with a mixture and dab it with a piece of cloth for some texture while it’s still wet.
Glazing
If you want to create a glazed look on your wall, you must mix the acrylic paint with the acrylic medium golden glazing liquid. This provides a translucent texture to your colour. This technique is also used to add depth and give a shading effect to the painting.
Sealing a painted wall
Sealing a painted wall is the final step of mural painting. Sealing is done by using an isolation coat and varnish. Mix the appropriate amount of varnish and water to cover your artwork by making little x’s using a paintbrush. That’s it. Your painting is safe and sealed now.
A few things to keep in mind
Mural painting can be super fun but make sure you do it correctly. Make sure you don’t have any pets around who could ruin the painting while it’s still wet. Or, more importantly, swallow something toxic.
Throughout the painting, take pauses to observe your painting from a distance. This will ensure that you are on the right path to creating the picture you imagined. End shockers of a painting gone wrong can be disdaining.
Most important of all: have fun creating your first wall art!
