I'm not sure if anyone is going to see my question on the post about the Wall mural, so I thought I might post it in a new topic real quick.
If I may, I'd like to ask a quick question from you experienced "wall dogs"?
When you project the image on the wall or substrate, what do you use to trace the lines with? A pencil? Stabilo? I'm just thinking of the acrylic paint being thin and possibly seeing a line where you "traced". Does this happen?
Just curious as I'd like to play around with this type of painting.
Thanks. Randy
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
We've used all manner of marking devices... pencils, felt pens and paint.
Pencils wear out real quick. Ditto for felt pens. They can also bleed through the paint.
Now I almost always use acrylic paint with a quarter inch fitch. I generally paint from a margerine container or something like that. It isn't unusual to wear out a fitches just laying out the wall if it is fairly rough.
My murals look like huge pen & ink drawings when finished so the dark lines I lay down when layiing out the mural are of no consequense. I use the same color that I do my final linework. Generally dark brown.
-dan
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Am I to assume you are projecting directly on the surface your painting as opposed to making patterns ?
If it were me I'd use stick (vine) charcoal...it is easy to erase... you can put it on as thin or thick as you like...the paint doesn't mind it being there...thats what us old "Dogs" used to use and would tomorrow if I had a job that called for it.
Incidently how big is this job?
Posted by Randy W. Robarge (Member # 2022) on :
Thanks Dan and Monte. This is more of a general question as opposed to a particular job.
The question came up in my mind when I was reading the other post regarding the wall mural.
I have a transparency and small opaque projector that I've never done anything with. I would be looking to do small jobs, like nothing bigger than a 4' x 8'.
Say if you were going to project artwork on a primed MDO board? That is probably what I'd try this method on for now. Maybe walls later.
Thanks again.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Randy, I've used sharpie brand markers on the walls I've been involved with. They do bleed through lighter colors of paint, but, when viewed from a distance, the lines disappear. Just a heads up with some projectors - you might get distortions in the projected image as you get nearer to the edge. Siometimes the image just may bow. It may mot be obvious on a 4'x 8' but definitely double check your lines before you start painting.
Havin' fun, Checkers
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
The best thing I've found is a graphite stick. It is a stick of graphite about as big around as a pencil only it is all graphite like the lead in a normal pencil. You don't have to sharpen them and they don't wear out near as fast as any of the tools previously mentioned on cinderblock walls and concrete.I buy the hb sticks found at most art supply stores.
Posted by Charles Ulysses Farley (Member # 3444) on :
Good advice from Checkers - distortion may not show in an illustration or graphic, but if it's lettering be sure and straighten it up. I use pencils, charcoal but usually I use Pentel Sign Pens they come in all colors, Grey works the best - water base, easy clean up. Black on a somewhat dark surface or white Stabilo Pencils.I don't do walls.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
One thing to consider if you are doing outdoor murals is that whatever you choose to outline the walls must be waterproof. Or it will disappear.
Another thing to consider is that murals painted onsite are a spectator sport. Most of the murals which I did gathered a tremendous amount of public attention. THis was orchestrated by the commissioning committee on purpose. It helped build community spirit and also helped to raise awareness (and future funding) of the mural program and why we were doing them.
Because of this I often spent more time laying out my mural than I needed. Rather than just blocking in a basic outline I would draw and add shading to key sections of the mural. The fact that spectators could SEE what the finished image would look like and that I did it in seeemingly record time would generate a great deal of excitement in the community.... read that FRONT PAGE NEWS! A good thing for me and the sponsoring committee.
I liked to sneak into town (with the knowlege of the sponsoring folks) and blast the mural up on the wall the first night. In the morning a wonderful black and white image of the mural had magically appeared on the wall and it was the talk of the town. And everybody came by too. With rapid progress over the next week or so until it was finished the excitement would build and build. An official signing ceremoney would cap it all off at the conclusion of the project.
-dan
[ February 20, 2003, 02:16 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
I use charcoal sticks to mark out murals ....
Reasons: Cheap, easy to see, go on any background, don't effect whatever paint you are using and can be rubbed off. But still waterproof if it rains overnight!
You can get all sizes charcoal sticks from any art supply shop Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on :
I remember billboard artists using indellable pencils. Tried it once and got a surprise when it all bled through the painting. Fortunately it all faded away in a couple of days.
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
WALLS...suggest "rough surface" My advice would be to make yourself a Perforated Paper Pattern! You can enlarge(inside),correct any inconsisties,add to,or leave out areas as you wish THEN:you can perforate(adjusting as you go)to correct all mistakes as you go each step. This way will enable you to create a better looking product when finished!
P.S.I always use spray paint,to "BLOW" through the holes for weather proof layouts on walls.
Hope this helps
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
For large jobs, we used charcoal sticks and red magic markers. The markers would bleed through sometimes, but would quickly fade out after a few weeks.
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
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