Murals by Missy - The Blog

I thought it would be fun to document the evolution of a mural from start to finish and post it here on my site, so that everyone is able to enjoy and understand the full process. The mural represented here is a coral reef/sea turtle scene that I decided to paint in my bathroom as a portfolio piece. I wanted to do just one wall that would have an aquarium/fantasy-like feel to it with sea turtles, coral, mermaids, dolphins, and lots of fish. So, here’s how it’s done!

Consultation – Time: 1 hour
The first step for any mural is to visit the site, measure walls, take photos, and discuss the subject matter. I work together with the client to visualize a design and during this time I take detailed notes. The consultation is the most important step in clarifying what the client wants so that I can create the magical environment they want! The client can provide as much or as little information or guidance as they want, and photos and other references are very helpful in this step. It’s also important to discuss color at this time. Should the colors of the mural coordinate with any textiles you have in the room? Will the flooring or wall color for the rest of the room be changing? All of these details are very important to the planning process.

For this mural, I wanted a coral reef scene with sea turtles and lots of color. The wall measured 8ft x 8ft. The flooring will be changed out after the mural is finished, and the walls will be painted a light sea-green. I wanted the mural to pop in this space, so I chose a nice deep sea blue as my main color.

Sketches – Time: 6 hours
Once the consultation is complete, I begin work researching references to create a pencil sketch of the scene, ensuring that I have included all of the elements discussed during the consultation. Once the black and white sketch is complete, I send the image to the client via email for approval. Here’s the black and white sketch for the coral reef mural:

After the client reviews the black and white sketch, I make any changes requested and begin working on the color sketch. These two steps are very important to the mural process. The sketches are as accurate to the final product as possible, and will be my guide while working on the full wall. In this case, I decided to make some minor changes to the coral on the right to add some variety.

When creating the color sketch, I work from the same jars of paint that I will use for the mural, to ensure that all of the colors are as accurate as possible. I create swatches which you can see above, and make mixing notes for future reference. This helps me to work much more quickly on the wall. The color sketch is sent to the client for approval, and now that it’s finished, it’s time to tackle that wall!

In the next installment of Evolution of a Mural, I’ll begin to prep the wall for painting, and show the rest of the process from start to finish. Stay tuned!