Painting A Mural: Paints}

Painting a Mural: Paints

by

Debra That Painter Lady Conrad

If you are planning to paint a mural you need to know something about the different paints available and which to choose for the best results. To avoid costly errors, you can also ask your paint supplier or local hardware store for advice on paint types.

* Painting your design onto your wall is just one of several tasks required to create your mural. Your surface will need to be prepared and, in some cases, sealed when complete. New plaster and concrete needs sealing, as do repairs where you’ve used putty to fill cavities and cracks. For protection, a final coat of transparent glaze is sometimes necessary, especially as weatherproofing for outdoor murals.

* Remember to choose your paint according to whether it is for interior or exterior use. Also consider how much wear it will receive and what it will need to withstand. For example, murals in kitchens and bathrooms will need a paint that is water-resistant. It’s never worth skimping and buying cheap paints, so shop wisely.

* Once your wall is prepared, make sure your base coat is the right type, because paint will not ‘take’ well on some paints. So-called ‘flat paint’ is a cheap matte finish often used for interiors. This low gloss paint is to be avoided as a base. It saps color from paint applied on top of it. It also dries too fast, when what you need is a ‘wet edge’ to ensure paint spreads evenly. Pearl or satin paints, which are glossier, make an ideal base layer for your mural.

* Acrylic and latex paints are a good choice for interior murals. (Modern latex paints do not necessarily contain rubber and are sometimes called ‘acrylic latex’ paints.) They are water-based, which makes cleaning brushes and spills easy.

* If you’re using latex paints, don’t mistake them for oil-based paints. Because they are in fact water-based, you can’t mix them with oil paints without creating a curdled mess. Also remember that if your base coat is very glossy then water-based paints may not adhere well.

* Once you’ve chosen the right paint (oil- or water-based) with the right degree of gloss, you will be ready to select your colors. Color can be changeable, so think your choice through. It can look very different in a sunny or shady room, for example. Also, that color on the sample will almost certainly look a lot brighter or deeper in hue when painted onto a much larger expanse of wall. Try it out before you commit yourself to creating your mural. As long as you don’t mix oil and water-based paints you can usually adjust the color by mixing it.

As well as knowing your basic paints and allied materials, you might want to explore some of the novelty paints and glazes on the market: metallic, fluorescent and textured paints are just a few of them. Playing with effects is all part of the fun!

Get even more help with your wall mural painting at

ThatPainterLady.com

. Here’s a helpful article that answer your questions about

paint for doing wall murals

.

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Painting a Mural: Paints}