I've done some big wall work in my day. Mostly basic graphics & text, nothing pictorial. I know I could do anything though.
I wan't to be the mural guy in my town! (There's no demand of course, but I will create it right!?)
Anyways, how do I get into this?
How do I market myself?
Walldogs?
Posted by Gavin Chachere (Member # 1443) on :
Glenn you left Lorio's??? I see you have now working at a newspaper now under your name.....off topic i know so sorry i cant give more mural advice Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Glenn,
Murals are a VERY small market traditionally. Some restaurants and community buildings might be a place to start, but a word of warning, be prepared for some odd requests. (I've done everything from scenics to cowboy boots.)
Be aware also that if you are going to do an interior mural, especially in a restaurant, you may have to do it at night. Many business owners prefer not to have their customers smell the paint and have health issues to consider. The last one I did was a week before the place opened and a joy to do.
Good luck. Creating a market is ambitious. Rapid
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
With over 90 historical murals painted to date I guess I would be the local mural guy in my town.
Thing is though that only one was done locally (in this area). Murals are a specialty and I am known for historical murals, especially period murals circa 1900-1940 or so. Steam trains are also my specialty.
Doing that many murals over the last 20 years has meant much international travelling which I enjoyed thoroughly.
These days I only do a couple of murals each year. (too busy doing other fun projects)
The secret to a mural career is to paint a great first mural in a place that has lots of international traffic. With that in place lots more are sure to follow.
Good luck with your mural career!
-dan
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Glenn, this is my dream also...I've done a few outdoors ones, many small indoors ones and even a bus!
If you paint in acrylics indoors there is no paint smell...oil based paints are for signs, not interior walls.
I find most restaurants LOVE having the artist at work during business hours, the customers love it too.
Dan's right, you need to do something real noticable..... maybe for free (don't hit me) where it's going to get a lot of attention.
Good luck!
A:)
Posted by Troy Haas (Member # 472) on :
Glenn,
I to love to do murals, unfortunatly the only one's I have done have been in my house. Not much International traffic......LOL
I have done several for the kids and one awhile back for myself. All are painted over right now. The kids both wanted something new and my mural was in my old office, which is now our family room again.
I didn't see anything wrong with having a larger than life size Spiderman scaling the wall, but the wife did not agree. We are moving into a new place in a few weeks, so we will see how things happen.
You have gotten advice from the two people I respect and trust the most when it comes to mural work.
I have yet to meet one, but he is definatly one of my artistic hero's. The other I have meet and along with being a sweetheart she is a great person. Her work, along with Dan's is awesome.
If you can get to a live meet, ask someone about mural work and and you will probaly talk all day with someone.
Good Luck to you !!!!
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
No demand for murals? You live 60 miles from Lafayette. Have you seen the work of Rob Dafford? Rob Dafford's siote. Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Now.......... THAT is a mural painter! Cool schtuff, Santo.
k31
Posted by Glenn S. Harris (Member # 2190) on :
Thanks for the repiles Peeps:
Gavin: I"m still working for Al on occasion. I'll be on vacation from the paper next week so I'm going to carve a big HDU piece for Al. It's a logo for a new restaurant in B.R..... it's going to be a pretty cool relief kind of thing.
Dan: I'm familiar with your work from SignCraft magazine. I believe you are the guy who has that pen & ink style. Your murals are incredible.
Adrienne: I'd do one for free!
Santo: I think Dafford did the Budwieser mural in Downtown B.R. and those big whales in N.O. didn't he? He's good... very realistic style.
I think there is alot more demand in other towns. Baton Rouge is pretty conservative.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Glenn, Me too. Being an artist is what got me in sign biz in the first place. The problem here is people want a cool graphic with their sign or on their wall (commercial & residential) but don't wanna shell out the dough fer such. I've been blessed with great opportunities to show what I can do here, mostly for rich "debs". But most people just won't spend the big bucks. All the contractors tell me they can get me all the work I want in the larger cities where they're buildin' the mansions. They claim these folks are lookin' for muralist and especially the faux pas stuff. I kind'a don't want to get too far into "marbleizing" or making metal doors look like mahogany, etc. etc. 'cuz people get a mind set that that's all you can do. Anyway, talk to sum'a yer contractor buddies who get the really nice homes to build. I tho't about advertising in Architectural Digest or the likes but I'd have to do some serious travelin' that I'm not quite ready to do just yet. Hope I gave you some ideas! Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Just checked out that site you mentioned, Santo......WOW!
NOW I wanna be a mural painter, too!!!!!
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got went something like this.."Find the person that is doing, or has whatever it is you desire, and do what they are doing!"
In my own case, this required doing whatever it took to get involved with Letterheads. Mike Stevens, Bob Behounek, Gary Anderson, Keith Kneith and Mike Jackson, to name a few.
Looking forward to seeing you at a live meet in the future Glenn. If you have the desire, and are willing to do whatever it takes, nothing is impossible.
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