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Preparing the Surface:

 

The first step in any painting project is to prepare the surface properly. If you’re painting a scene on a textured drywall surface (typical in most homes), be sure the wall is freshly painted with wall paint that has a “flat finish”.  The acrylic paints that you will be using to paint your design won’t adhere to a shiny surface such as high-gloss or semi-gloss paint. A light background color on the walls is best. 

 

If you’re painting on a wooden surface with a shiny finish, such as furniture, cabinets or doors, first wash the surface to remove any dirt or grease. Use a damp (not soaking) cloth moistened with a solution of water and detergent. Let dry. 

 

Next sand the surface lightly with a fine grit sandpaper and remove any dust with a damp paper towel. Then apply a coat of primer and let dry thoroughly. Lightly sand the surface again, remove any dust, and apply the desired color of paint for your base coat (the background color for your painted design). Let the base coat dry thoroughly before tracing your design onto the surface

Personalizing your home with hand painted murals and other designs is not only fun, but easy and inexpensive. Painting scenes on your walls, floors, furniture, doors and cabinets is as easy as coloring in a coloring book. Just find the design you want, trace it onto tracing paper, enlarge it on a copy machine or computer and transfer it to the surface you want to paint.

Preparing the Design Pattern:

 

Before you can make the pattern for your creative masterpiece, you must decide what you want to paint. Do you want to create a fantasy nursery or playroom for your child by painting his favorite book characters or animals all around the room? Do you want to paint a beautiful landscape on the wall of your dining room? Do you want to add a floral design to your bathroom cabinets or the top of a table or chest of drawers? 

 

Whatever design you choose, you’ll need to find a clear picture of it. Use tracing paper and a pencil to trace the design and then go over the lines again with a black permanent marker to make them darker.

 

Next, decide how large you want to make the design. Do you want one large scene on a wall, or a small design on each corner of a tabletop? Take the traced design to a copy store and enlarge it to the size you need. 

After enlarging your design to the desired size, position the pattern on the wall or furniture piece and secure it with painter’s tape. Slip a piece of graphite paper (found in craft stores) underneath the pattern and trace over the lines of the design using a stylus or empty ballpoint pen. 

 

Remove the pattern and graphite paper and you’re ready to paint. If you plan to use the same pattern many times, such as tracing a roomful of butterflies, make more than one copy of your pattern.

 

If you want your design to cover an entire wall, use an opaque projector to project the image onto the wall and trace the design with a pencil. Just remember, you don’t want the design or mural to be so large that it overwhelms the room. You can purchase opaque projectors at most craft stores fairly inexpensively.

 

Painting Supplies:

 

Decide on the colors of acrylic paints that you’ll need. You can purchase these paints in 2-ounce bottles at craft stores. You’ll also need to get several sizes of artist’s paintbrushes, depending on the size of your design. Moderately priced brushes intended for use with acrylic paints are fine. Get flat brushes for filling in large areas of paint and round brushes for smaller areas.

 

You’ll also need disposable plastic cups for holding your paint while painting or for mixing paint if you want a custom color. Keep plenty of paper towels on hand for drying off wet brushes and wiping up spills or drips. Be sure to cover the floor with a painter’s plastic drop cloth before you begin painting. It’s also helpful to have some touch-up wall-color paint available to touch up any drips on the wall after you’re finished painting your mural.

 

After filling in all the colored areas of your design with paint, you might also want to outline your artwork to make the design more “crisp”. To do this, use a permanent marker or paint pen in black or a dark color that coordinates with your design. 

You can also use an opaque projector for very large designs to project the image onto the wall surface and trace it. Then fill in the traced design with acrylic paints. 

 

There are hundreds of painting books and magazines that feature design patterns. These books will also tell you what color paints to purchase and give you painting directions to complete your design.

 

You can also find designs in coloring books and children’s books. For a customized decorator look, trace the designs from your upholstery fabric, curtains, bedding or wallpaper and paint them on your walls or furniture. The possibilities for hand painted designs are unlimited.

Simple wall mural traced from a child’s bedding

Protecting the Finished Design:

 

If your paint project is on a wall, you don’t need to seal the design. However, if it is on cabinet doors or furniture, seal it with several coats of clear acrylic sealer, either from a spray can (follow the directions on the can) or the kind that is applied with a brush or roller. If your design is painted on the floor, then seal it with several coats of polyurethane to protect it from wear.

It’s Just Paint!

 

Don’t be afraid to get creative and add your own personal artistic touch to your home and furnishings. After all, it’s just paint! If you don’t like the result, you can always paint over it.

Simple flowers painted on a child’s toy box.

Learn more about decorative painting from: It’s Just Paint! Decorative Painting for Walls, Furniture & Fabrics, sold at left.

 

Visit the Blue Sage Press website for more fun how-to books and e-books about decorating, cooking, planning weddings and parties, and crafting