FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
By far, this is the most asked question I get from clients, fans and people just walking by as I'm painting a mural! How did you get started with painting murals? I've always been able to sketch and draw, ever since I was a little kid. I didn't start painting until I was in my teens and looking back now, I wasn't very good at it. It wasn't until I was in my late twenties that I started taking painting seriously. I painted my first mural in my 9 year old son's bedroom back in July of 2008. My new husband (of two weeks) told me it was awesome and I should post pictures of it on craigslist to see if anyone would hire me. The first call I got from the ad was Zoo Atlanta, asking me to quote on a project they had in mind at the Zoo. I meet with Zoo Atlanta, listened to what they were looking for and then came home and designed the mural on paper, then submitted the proposal to them. Two weeks later, Zoo Atlanta called me, said "You're Hired!" And that's how I decided to get into this line of work. I get paid to do what I love doing - Creating Art! Did you go to art school? Other than taking art classes in middle school and high school, no, I did not go to art school. I was raising two kids by the time I was 25 so there was no way I could afford to go. I always wanted to though! How long have you been painting murals? July 7th, 2013 will mark my 3 year anniversary of painting murals FULL TIME as I finally quit my day job after painting murals for two years! July 7th, 2013 will mark my 5 year anniversary of painting murals, creating art and finally finding myself!
- Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
These murals were hand painted secretly! In Apex (Metro Raleigh), North Carolina, my client's husband is a big University of North Carolina (UNC) Basketball Fan and for his birthday, his wife had these murals hand painted (by me) in his "man cave" without his knowing. She's going to keep her husband away from the "man cave" as long as she can because his birthday isn't until April 19th! I can't wait to hear how this turns out! About the Murals: The husband loves basketball and even more than that, he loves UNC Basketball. He went to UNC and his wife went to North Carolina State University (NCSU) and if you don't know, UNC and NCSU are big rivals! The wife wanted to incorporate all the things her husband loves about the university and his beloved team, the UNC Tar Heels. In the main mural, you'll find the mascot for UNC - the Tar Heel Ram, the Dean Dome and the Old Well. Across the bottom of the mural, you'll see 5 years representing each year UNC won the NCAA Title and the words "National Champions." The wife wanted NCSU represented in this mural so I painted the NCSU Wolf mascot being stomped by the UNC Tar Heel. The husband will get a kick out of that, I was assured! In different areas of the "man cave", there are three Basketball Jerseys hand painted with the players the husband likes the most. Of course, Michael Jordan is the most important one (big fan, I am) as well as Tyler Hansbrough and Vince Carter. Each jersey is life size and three dimensional (trompe l'oeil murals - French for "fool the eye"), giving the appearance that they are real, hung up throughout the "man cave." Hopefully, once the wife presents the coolest birthday present ever to her husband, she'll tell me all about it! It's not my birthday but it sure does feel like it when I think about this project! You can check out the work online.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Tips for the Perfect Mural: If you're considering a mural for your nursery or child's room, there are plenty of things to consider. Like any other "project" in your home, you need to do your research because it's important to know all the facts and what's involved. 1. Search for muralists that have inspired you with their work. 2. Set up interviews with all the muralists you contact. 3. Meet each of them to find out which ones are most in-tune with you and your ideas. 4. Ask for a quote and draft of the mural design from each muralist; Consider the Muralist, the Artwork, and the Cost before making your final decision. 5. Don't be afraid to ask questions and always be honest, especially if you don't like something. If you do all of this, you'll get the perfect mural for your home or business because you made sure the muralist was on the same page as you were. And for years to come, you'll enjoy the mural, smiling every time, knowing that you had a huge part in the design.