Go Paint Something!

The history of wall mural paintings is rich and complex. Tens of thousands of years old, they were supposedly started as a form of communication in caves. As their artists evolved so did their message and purpose. Wall mural paintings became a way to convey political messages as they focused people’s attention on society’s issues.

Take a look at the paintings of Michelangelo, and the religious murals of his day; or, more recently, the murals of Diego Rivera and the WPA painters from the 1930’s. Murals have continued to evolve not only in their purpose but their uses. Murals have not only been used for exteriors, adorning building facades with their political and industrial messages, but have also been popular in homes as well.

Check out the murals discovered at Pompeii. As products and materials became easier to work with, murals themselves became more commonplace to the everyday consumer. With the advent of acrylics, drywall, etc., having a mural painted in your home was not the extravagance that it used to be.

Murals are large-scale scenes or paintings painted on or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other large surface. Wall mural paintings can be applied to smooth, non-textured surfaces, or they can be painted directly on textured surfaces, such as concrete, brick, concrete block and even corrugated aluminum.

In a residence, their primary purpose is to enhance the look, feel and spaciousness of a room. They can make a small room look bigger, give a room a magical view or showcase your favorite person, place or thing. In a commercial environment, it can enhance the reputation and location of a building, while at the same time make a strong statement, whether about a generic issue, or even strongly held political or religious beliefs.

Wall mural paintings can create visual effects that can be enticing, tranquil, awe-inspiring, exciting, etc. In my opinion they are one of the most cost efficient ways to brighten a room while maximizing your ability to personalize a space. At their core, murals are an extension of your personality, interests, visual likes and dislikes, etc. They add a personal touch to a room or space that is authenticate and creative.

Your wall mural painting not only adds value to your home or office, but, in some cases, can transform a room and transport your heart, soul and mind to a different time and place. Or they can simply be whimsical. They’re so much more than decoration when you talk to people who own and love them! They end up being something that is adored and appreciated, not to mention, a fabulous conversation starter!

So, what would you like your mural to be? A magical place? Your favorite hobby? Your favorite person? A certain theme? Looking to make a statement? Once you get your idea and settle on a specific visual, you are ready to either paint it yourself or sit down with a professional muralist and get the project started.

As a professional muralist whose been painting for 20+ years, I have painted everything from nursery rooms, dens, kitchens and garage doors, to multi-story building facades and highway retaining walls. The only detail that I would remind you about is the fact that murals, due to their size and scope, tend to be thought of as permanent once they are installed so be sure it’s something you love and want to live with for a while (see my articles on wall paper and canvas murals for a non-permanent solution for wall mural paintings).

Wall mural paintings are more than art, more than decoration…they represent life, love, happiness, energy, excitement, tranquility, basically any human emotion that matters. Don’t forget that murals started as a way communicate messages and still do to this day!

What’s your message? Just like Michelangelo and all the great master painters who practice this craft, wall murals are pieces of magic and portals to people, places or things that we absolutely love and dream about!

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