Baby Room Nursury Mural Tips

Just a note :I get lot's of questions and calls for help. I can usually answer any question about faux painting and murals with one or two emails. But this is the longest communication I have had so far.

This is going to be a long article.  I have been comunicating with a gentleman that is painting a mural for his new baby. It is a surprise for his wife. I give him lots of tips about choosing paint and drawing and painting the mural. So here we go:

 Hi,

Thank you for your advise on the paint to chose when painting. 

I'm alittle nervous about this project.  I currently setting up the nursery for my soon to be born baby boy and I wanted to make it special and unique.  I having the theme be Mickey sports.  I already painted the walls and put the wall paper, however I wanted to add a painted mural of the cartoon Mickey playing a sport.  I found various online images and would like to project them on the wall and pait them.  I have never done this, so I'm nervous about the whole thing.  Am I getting way over myhead here?  Thank you for your time.

 Okay… here is my first response: 

Hi…

What a cool thing you are doing for your baby. And… these types of murals are the easiest murals to create… so you are not getting over your head. 

First, you need to get the image projected onto the wall. This will require some sort of tool to project the graphic onto the wall.

You can use one of two ways:

• One is a very inexpensive projector that you set the picture under the projector and it projects to graphic on the wall. There are two problems with this projector… one is that you can only use a small graphicabout 4 by 4 inches.  And, The projected image will be fuzzy and not big enough to create a cute mural with.
  
• The other projector is an old school over head projector. These are not cheap. But… you can usually borrow one from a school or library… or buy one cheap on eBay.  The graphic that you choose will have to be printed on a clear piece ofacetate which can be done on your own printer. The acetate sheets are available from Office Supply stores or School supply stores.  Then you have to set up the projector on something that is high enough to project the image on the correct place on the wall. Then you simply turn out the lights and trace the image. 
  

I don't use either of these methods.  I just draw on the wall with watercolor pencils using the graphic as aguide. When you use watercolor pencils you can erase easily with a damp sponge. I draw and change the lines until the graphic and the drawing outline look very similar.  

Now you just fill in the sections with acrylic craft paints.  Now here is the really cool part.  After all the coloring book style sections are filled in… you can take a black marker and outline or trace over all the outline. This will make the mural look clean neat and professional. I also covers up where your lines were less than perfect. 

Go for it… you will be a hit! Debra

Okay… so far so good. But… I think I have confused him:

Thank you so much for your advice. I already traced it with a marker on the wall using a projector I borrowed from my job. Just attached it to my computer.  

Now, we would like to make it stand out so here is my question.

The walls are yellow and are knockdown texture. Should we still use acrylic paint and like you recommended trace the outlines after in black?  Its a mickey mouse character dunking a basketball.  I like the idea of tracing the outline black, but because if the knockdown, its not smooth surface and I 'm worried if its going to come out well with a black marker.  Is there a Marker you recommend or should I use paint for outline as well.

So of course I feel as if I have made his project clear as mud. Let's see if I helped clear it up:

Hi 

I do outline with a paint brush. It is easy to paint over… with markers you would have to prime several coats to cover marker, because they bleed through.  

Often new artists are intimidated by painting an outline… so I often suggest markers. But, with a knock down texture you will find it easier to get a neat line with a paint brush and acrylic craft paint. Use a liner brush… available at craft stores.   

Oh… did you use wall paints or craft paints for the mural? This will make a difference in the paint for black outlines. If you used craft paint then outline with craft paint. If you used wall paint, then get a small can of black wall paint. Most wall paints have a sheen and acrylic craft paints do not. So you want all your paint to have the same sheen. 

Send pictures so I can see your cute mural. 

Now I figure I have answered all the questions he would need to ask… I thought wrong:

Sorry, one more thing.

I used Glidden eggshell paint to paint the walls.Do I still use acrylic paint to paint in the character and outline or do I use wall paint? 

If wall paint, do I use eggshell again or do we gowith semi-gloss? Do we want the drawing to stand out. Or do we want to keep the same "shine."

Sorry for all the questions and again, thank you for your help. 

This is getting fun… how many more questions can I answer by email. Sometimes this painting stuff is very hard to explain. 

 Okay here is the answer: you can use either.

 If you use craft paint you can go over the top of it just to the outside edge of the mural with a satin based polyurethane which will give it a shine. This is a much cheaper option that buy all the colors in wall paint. If you have already painted it with wall paints in eggshell finish then all will be good.

Or you can also cover that wall paint withthe polyurethane. But only go over the mural or it will look messy on your base color wall paint.  Did I make that clear? Let me know if I didn't get that information clear enough. '

Now I have completly covered all the questions and I was clear… Right? Wrong. 

Sorry, a little lost here.   

I just have the character traced on the wall with a black marker. Thewall I traced on is painted with eggshell interior wall paint. 

So basically I need to fill in the colors of the character and ouline what I traced at the end I assume. 

I'm sorry, I may not be using right terms. I'm new at this and I don't want to screw it all up.  Its a surprise for my wife as well. She can't see what I have done with the room.

I am starting to feel really bad for this guy. He is trying to something so sweet and I am driving him crazy. Do you think I got him straitened out? 

You need to fill in the colors and then outline. Yep… you have the right idea. 

To fill in the colors you can use any paint. It's the fact that acrylic craft paints will not have the same sheen as the walls have now. The colors will look flat and lifeless. 

After you finish all the colors and the second outline… then go over all that with a satin polyurethane clear coat. It will make all the colors pop.   

Oh… The marker you have already used should be a permanent marker. Or when you start painting it will bleed into the paint. 

I am crossing my fingers that I am actually helping this guy… and not adding to his stress. 

Hi Debra,,,

 

Well here is my attempt at art… LOL  I took quite a long time today to finish and I still have not applied the clear coat. 

 

So here it is….   Its not perfect, but I"m sure my wife and baby will love it!!!!

 

Thank you soooo very much for all your help, advise, and patience!!!!!  Thank you

 

Your apprentice,

 

Michael (Miami, FL)