How do you measure for a mural?

Question

I have done a handful of murals over the years, and I always have the problem of not adjusting my overall space with the over all image I'm trying to portray in the mural. I think partly it is due to the fact that my subject I'm painting seems to evolve and change as I progress through the mural. Which causes me to have to adjust it to the rest of the mural.
How do I calculate this when I'm laying everything out?

Answer 1

Adamizer, a grid is a good idea, as far as it goes. You say your painting evolves as you work? Then I assume you do it freehand? Start with a basic idea, and elaborate along the way?
I do the same...the only thing I have found that works for me is this...draw the basic idea on the wall itself. Just the outlines...a rough sketch of what you want to do...start to finish....NO DETAIL!! thats the key...once you have the outlines, and you begin to paint, and revise, and elaborate as you go, you will be able to step back and see where your original fits, and where your revisions must fit.
I use a charcoal pencil...that way the paint goes over it without a line being visible...you can also use pastel pencils...but be careful...if you paint yellow over a pink line, it'll change color :)

Answer 2

I painted murals for clients for 30 years-most of the murals were freehand unless it was a vehicle or something then I predrew those and transfered them. The whole mural was always laid out for the client on paper and then drawn out on the wall with watery acrylic paint-I don't like charcoal because it smears into the paint- pencils work fine for detail after you lay it out. Don't jump into detail before you block it out with watery paint on the whole wall. Things can change- they did enough with mine, but your basic layout will remain the same. Grids are great too-it just depends on the image and style and your own skills. Sounds like youre jumping the gun as they say- block it out-get back and look at it-then move on to detail.

Answer 3

Hey Adamizer,

You use a GRID. Some number of inches equals some number of feet. Or metric if you like. The original is in say inches. And you need to convert to 10 feet per inch. Then each 1 inch square takes 10 feet by 10 feet, or 100 square feet.

There are many scales you could use, but the planning is the key.