Q&A for How to Paint a Mural

You’ll need brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes, paint rollers and trays, paints, primers, and sealant. You’ll also need painter’s tape to block off any areas you want to protect from the paint, as well as drop cloths or plastic to protect the floor or ground. Depending on how big or high up the mural will be, you may also need a ladder or scaffolding. Wear an apron and old clothes you don’t mind staining, and bring cleaning supplies such as rags, water, brush soap, and paper towels.

You’ll need to clean the floor thoroughly and patch up any holes, then apply a water-based primer. If you like, you can paint on a base layer of some type of paint formulated for concrete, then paint on your designs in acrylic. Paint on a few layers of sealant to protect the finished paint, especially if the floor is in a high-traffic area.

You will likely need to sand down and prime the surface so your paint will stick properly. Keep in mind that the surface area will be greater than on a flat surface, so take that into account when planning your time and calculating how much paint you’ll need. You won’t be able to make long strokes with a brush, so plan to use spray paint or apply your paint with a stippling action. View the surface from straight on while you paint to avoid distorting your image.

Use a light-fast, UV protection, waterproof spray varnish. You can get gloss, satin or matte. You just have to leave the main mural to thoroughly dry for a few days before varnishing (it's called curing).

No, it's never good to paint over wallpaper. It will affect the longevity of your mural. You should make sure to remove all the wallpaper and glue before priming your wall for a mural.

There is no easy answer to this question. Factors include: how large is the mural, how detailed is your picture, how many colors are you planning to use, how many layers will it need (with drying time in between), how experienced a painter are you?

No, but you should overcoat with a clear sealer. This will protect your hard work and make it easier to clean.

Yes, though depending on the hue of the ombre, you may have to paint several coats to make the mural portion dark enough so the ombre doesn't show through.

Using multiple density overlay (MDO) plywood is a good way to go. It's very durable and has a smooth exterior overlay on exterior grade plywood. It is made for outdoor applications. It comes in 4'x8' sheets, in 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch thicknesses. Use a good quality exterior primer. Be sure to prime all sides. Check your local lumber yard. You won't find MDO plywood in Lowe's or Home Depot.

An oil-based varnish can easily be applied over a water-based paint. Using it outdoors won't be much of an issue, but it will give the paint an amber hue over time.

Gesso can be used, but it tends to get expensive in large quantities. As for the wall, you could try painting directly over the paint. If it's acrylic on acrylic, it will probably stick. To ensure the mural looks as good as possible, wash the wall and put acrylic primer on first.

Match the primer to what kind of paint you plan on using. Get an acrylic primer for acrylic paint or an oil primer for oil-based paints. Make sure the primer works on wood. You could try getting an alkyd primer, then using an oil or latex paint for the mural.

The best way to do this is with a projector. With a digital art projector, you can put an image on the wall by using a computer or another electric device. It makes outlining the mural very easy. Opaque projectors are great for blowing up printed images. You can also use old-fashioned projectors if you know how to make slides.

Oil-based paints usually aren't the best choice for outdoors. Water-based paints tend to hold up better against rain and moisture. Still, you can use oil paint. If you're painting on rust-prone metal or tough wood, oil is extra effective.

A water-based varnish is your best bet. It is damage-resistant and won't discolor your mural. Oil-based varnishes are also safe to use, although this will cause your mural to look a little yellow over time.

Try a water-based varnish to coat the mural quickly while keeping its colors bright long-term. An oil-based varnish is fine too, but it will give the mural a yellow hue, which may not be a great choice inside a dark body shop.

Latex house paint is a great choice for covering large spaces. You can switch to acrylic house paint or high-quality art acrylics for details. Oil paints also make for a good mural if you have time to wait from them to dry.

Most artists go with water-based varnish. It dries quickly and works over paint commonly used in murals. Another choice is an oil-based varnish. Something like polyurethane lasts but makes the paint look a little more yellow than normal.

The process is about the same as sketching indoors. A woodworking pencil will do in most cases. For darker walls, try using a permanent marker. You will end up painting over it, so the color doesn't matter.

Yes! Many houses have murals; just find a good, sturdy wall and follow the handy steps outlined above and you’ll be set! In my personal opinion, houses with murals are mega cool. Just ask Francisco Goya!

Ask around. Many shop owners with an open wall would love to have someone paint a mural on it. This also helps keep hoodlums from graffitiing it.

Yes, there is. Good acrylic mural paints are great, but check your budget, these can be quite expensive. If this goes over your budget, use them for the details and 'ordinary' household paint for blocking in the under layers or large areas.

Any old oak wood should be fine. Make sure it isn't rough, it needs to be smooth and polished.