 |
|
How do I go about getting a mural started? The process for developing a custom mural is a fun and painless one! The interested party need merely call or e-mail me and just start discussing whatever ideas are being considered. We can then arrange an appointment to meet so that I can see and photograph the area under consideration and we can really start the creative process. I then take all the information I have gathered, and go back to my studio to come up with several design ideas. I send these out in the mail along with prices, and the customer can then decide how or when to proceed.. No pressure! Is this expensive? I always work within my client’s budget – we can either begin with a set budget in mind, and I can develop designs to fit within that, or I will send several ideas with a range of prices. The entire consultation and design portion is complementary, and the client always knows, before any painting is started, what the cost will be. What do you paint on, besides walls? I have painted on furniture – this is especially great for children’s furniture – and I can paint on canvas or flat wood cut-outs that can be installed but have the flexibility to be moved to a new location if desired, unlike a traditional mural which stays on the wall. My portfolio indicates if canvas or wood cut-outs are used in the work. Usually, cut-outs are combined with wall-muraling as well. What size projects do you work on? Any size project! Small or very large, and in-between! How long does this take? I always do my best to fit the project within the time-frame that is convenient for the client. It usually takes at least 2 to 3 weeks to develop and finalize a design, and then it’s a matter of scheduling the painting time. If there is a deadline for the client, I do whatever I can to meet it. What kind of paint do you use? I only paint with water-based acrylic and latex paints. I will show you samples before I get started if there is any concern. Have you worked with other muralists? On very large projects, I will often team up with my sometimes partner and collaborator, long-time Portland-area muralist, Karen Carman. My portfolio will indicate such collaborations. What if I think I want a mural, but I don’t have a very definite idea in mind? This is a very common situation, and a fun problem to solve together. At our initial appointment, I try to gather any and all information you have about what you might want, then take it from there for the design portion. You can start with anything from an actual picture of something you like, to just your blank wall that needs… something. After getting to know you and what you like a little bit, looking around at the surrounding rooms, art, furniture, color – finding out about what makes you smile, etc., I will come up with several ideas for you to think about! This process almost always gets the ball rolling toward the perfect solution. It is a very fun and creative adventure. Do you only work in the Portland/Vancouver area? Most of my work is local to the Portland/Vancouver area, and of course, it makes sense that I need to be able to easily commute to the place I am painting. Another option for having custom artwork done from a distance, is to have a painted canvas mural or wood cut-outs made, then shipped. Canvas pieces can be easily rolled and shipped, then finished and installed in any manner the client chooses. Wood cut-outs are simple to install without any additional finish-work, or can be incorporated into classic wall-painted murals. With the beauty of technology it is remarkably simple to come up with designs, measurements, and finished artwork all via e-mail without any traveling. There are a couple of examples of this in my portfolio. |