By Jasmin Pannu, lead muralist and owner, Jasmin Pannu Art Studio
Follow Jasmin on Instagram here, @JasminPannu. Website, here.
There is little that’s more satisfying to me than watching a space transform after a freshly painted mural.
Murals have the potential to change an entire space’s energy and ambience. Over the years, I’ve painted 80+ murals at a variety of places- from offices to paediatric clinics, playplaces, retail stores and homes. And in every single case, the murals were able to create the kind of experience that blank walls just couldn’t measure up to.
How to Paint a Mural
Now, while professional murals require tools, planning and sometimes a certification (always a good idea if you want to pursue being a muralist, anyway), a hobbyist or enthusiast can easily get started on their own mural with just a few tips.
Mural Painting Tip #1: Consider the Space
Brainstorm your ideas for the space. Start by thinking about things like the purpose of the room: is it somewhere you entertain? relax? Who uses this space most often? What colours and shapes are already present in the room?
These questions will help you create a sketch for your mural. Remember that your wall painting will probably be there for some time, so thinking about how the room is most often used and complementing the existing colours and furniture design will lead to a cohesive look.
In my own living room, I painted this simple tropical leaves mural (scroll down for the template of this design!). I used the space’s plants and accent colours as inspiration for the wall painting design.
Mural Painting Tip #2: Leverage Household Tools
A few tools can go a long way in making a mural look well done.
Chalk- Use chalk to transfer your sketch onto the wall, you can do this a few different ways: you can freehand the sketch onto the wall, you can project your sketch (of course, this requires a projector), or you can create a grid on both your sketch and the wall (using chalk) and accurately replicate the design that way.
Measuring tape and a level- Use a measuring tape to find the middle of the wall, create a grid for your design and make sure the artwork lines up the way you want it to. A level is especially handy in making sure your horizontal lines are straight.
Pro tip: Always use centimeters on the measuring tape! It is difficult to divide inches, so centimeters will be your best bet when scaling your wall painting.
Painter’s Tape and Floor Covering: Tape really will be your best friend. Not only will it keep your lines crisp, it will also make sure edges and other areas don’t accidentally get paint on them. Speaking of keeping things clean, you’ll want to lay down old sheets or plastic to keep paint from dripping to the ground.
In this residential mural, I created a grid with chalk so that I was able to recreate the intricate design into a proportionate and straight wall painting.
Mural Painting Tip #3: Choose Your Materials Wisely
The beauty of residential murals are that the walls usually require no prep work. With most home walls, they’ve already been primed and you have your base coat, so that’s two steps that you get to skip right out the gate.
That also gives you the benefit of being able to choose acrylic paint from your local craft store. Be careful though- you’ll want to be cognisant of whether your paints are matte or glossy. (I would suggest matte for the hobbyist or enthusiast artist).
You’ll also have free reign with the brushes you choose, but be sure to pick in accordance to desired line thickness and texture.
Finally, if you plan on having your mural last some time, pick up a sealant (a matte or glossy spray to match your chosen paints), to keep your colours looking fresh for years to come.
For this children’s Harry Potter themed mural, I used Behr’s wall paint from Home Depot. I chose some paints in matte and others in glossy / metallic to create a whimsical look that plays with the room’s lighting.
Mural Templates
Start the ombre mountains mural by choosing a single colour. From there, you’ll start with the darkest shade at the bottom, and get slightly lighter with every layer, moving upwards. This will give the illusion of depth and emulate the natural beauty of mountains at a distance.
With the tropical leaves design, you can choose to either just outline or to colour in the leaves. A singular colour with outlines will create a minimalist look. Feel free to add shading to create a more realistic aesthetic with the mural, but I recommend keeping your palette to 3 colours or less so that it doesn’t overwhelm the space.
Where a Professional Muralist Comes In - Jasmin Pannu Art Studio
Years ago, friends started asking me for murals in their homes. Then, it turned into small businesses reaching out through word of mouth. Then, bigger clients started commissioning me for entire offices and buildings.
Today, I have several dozen murals in the Toronto area.
I design and execute murals from conceptualisation to the final sealant, and everything in between.
As a professional muralist, I’m also a Gold-level graduate from Mural Routes, Canada’s public art authority. This combination of training and experience makes me your artist-of-choice for those wall painting projects that are outside of the realm of DIY.
So, when you’re ready, shoot me a message or a call. All you’ll need to include in your mural inquiry is a quick line on approx. dimensions (e.g. 5x12ft) and a rough idea of design (e.g. logo in the home office). I’ll get back to you with a quote on your project as well as a detailed price sheet so you can see options that are sure to fit your budget.
Start Your Mural Project Today:
Follow Jasmin Pannu on Instagram for a behind-the-scenes look at her mural work:
@JasminPannu
