A mural is a piece of artwork that is either painted or directly applied on the ceiling, wall, or any other permanent surface. In this artwork, the artist incorporates harmoniously the architectural elements of the space given into the picture. He or she also works in cooperation with the designers, community representatives, as well as art commissions. This characteristic distinguishes a mural artist from other types of artists falling under the broader category of Fine Artists such as painters, sculptors, as well as illustrators. Mural art has been in existence since the late 19th century, continues to this day to be well received, and enjoyed by many. For those who are interested in pursuing their enjoyment of murals at home, hiring Toronto mural painters is a commonplace and affordable endeavour.
Mural Artists Explained
A muralist is ultimately a painter and requires materials like paint, paintbrushes, paint sprayers, sealers, drop cloths, pencil, or charcoal among others. The artist uses a type of paint that best suits the site where the mural is to be created. For example, a muralist will need a paint type that can withstand the extreme elements if working on a project on an exterior wall. In addition, the paint should go hand in hand with the painting style to reflect the message being put across. That is to say, a hip urban undertone can be created with spray paint, for example, much like graffiti. These artists paint some of their work on large canvases attached to the wall.
Working on a project, a mural artist first comes up with a concept or idea about how he wants the mural to appear keeping in mind the clients’ needs. He then draws the good idea on paper. The first outline can be painted or drawn on canvas for the muralist to fill in the other details. This requires a combination of various techniques. When the job is done, it can be protected with a cover of sealer coat.
The Power to Transform Spaces
The artist must be able to transform the environment and the community at large. He should challenge and inspire the viewer’s apart from merely adorning the place. Enormous public mural projects painted on a site will usually take as long as several months to be completed. Thus, the community is able to witness a day-to-day creation of the artist. The role of a mural artist is to create an authentic artwork by the use of a wide range of techniques and media. The artist working on a project is expected to do the following among others:
- Confer with editors, clients, art directors, writers and other parties interested as far as the artwork nature and content to be produced are concerned.
- He must study the various techniques to learn how to apply them into the artistic endeavors.
- The artist should be able to keep a portfolio of artistic work in order to demonstrate his styles, abilities, and interests as well.
- At the end of it all, he should submit preliminary or completed artwork plans for approval and thereafter incorporate any changes that may arise.
- For a unique and fantastic piece of work, the muralist should monitor the trends, events as well as other circumstances. He should research on the specific disciplines by attending art exhibitions and reading art publications in the subject area. He can then develop his ideas keeping current on the world’s art activities.
Mural Techniques
The techniques that mural artists employ vary considerably from job to job, and from artist to artist. Primarily the techniques include:
- Enlarging artworks via projection or grid-based techniques
- Painting utilizing airbrush or spray paint
- Training in the use of lift equipment to reach hard to access places
Of course, this is simply an uninspired list of the basics that mural artists must have some training in. Since there are such a wide variety of talents and methods applied in, any given mural it is important to seek out those artists that you feel compelled and intrigued by. A few quick internet searches will usually put you on the track to finding out more about your favourite artists’ style.
