My First Mural! Painting on cinder Block

[Naberrie]

Hello everyone!

I've just finished my very first Mural! It was done for a company here in town. The client was really happy with it.
This whole thing was very scary to me at first. I wasn't sure if I could paint. I'm so used to sketching. And the guy who hired me, saw my sketchbook and asked me to paint a patriotic mural for his factory.

I've done one other painting before I started, so this was a learning experience along the way! I'm happy with it. I worked really hard on it.
The Client wanted an American Flag, Statue of Liberty, and an American Eagle in the Mural.


Here is the finished piece


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0423.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0439.jpg
^this was the best front view I could get. Had to climb on the metal shelving to get it.:)

some progress pics

working on the Flag shading
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0127.jpg

finished Flag

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0177.jpg

Starting on the American Eagle

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0238-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0344.jpg the Satue of Liberty

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0259.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0281.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0253.jpg


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0264.jpg

Letters
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/Cami-/DSCF0403.jpg
...probably one of the harder days. I HATE PAINTING LETTERS! AHH it was hard. I don't like painting structured things. Stars were hard Letters were just awful.. I don't like my own handwriting very much ..let alone trying to paint on on a mural! It worked out though..once I got the shapes going.
..and of course I forgot the L in Bless when I first started ..haha. As you can see in the pic.

[Alabaster]

I hope the man who hired you, payed you good, because you did a wonderful job ! Not to mention, that this is your first! mural painting. The shading of the flag is very smooth, the eagle is just right considering the colours and the harmony with the flag and the statue. The statue is fantasticly executed, considering that "she" is an object, where everybody knows, what she looks like, which is always a bit restricting, isn't it ? Only the foot and the platform she stands on seems a bit "quickly" executed. The letters btw are absolutely fine for me, they fit into the "scene", at least to my opinion. You don't like painting "strucured" things ? Explain ! :)

Well, once again, I like your painting and I'm from Europe so there :wink: - greetings and have fun!

[Theodoric]

excellent job with that, the bald eagle is what most impresses me. I hope to see you producing more murals in the future!

[clanlord]

I like the patriotic look of your work... Hope you were patriotic too when doing such thing! There's no words to explain this, but in technical look of the things Good work!

George

[misael]

It is rendered quite nicely. Great eagle and flag. But the composition is lacking. It says nothing to me. Its like the client asked for an eagle a flag and the statue, and thats what you gave him. I think you should really put your heart in to your work. Tho its painted well, it has no life to it. Sorry to be such a dick. But its what I see. You can get back at me by tearing up my work that I've posted, Its why I post it.

[Bowlin]

Its like the client asked for an eagle a flag and the statue, and thats what you gave him.

Yeah, what kind of artist gives a client exactly what they asked for? :rolleyes:

For a first mural it is excellent. Added to the fact that it's your second painting it's even MORE impressive! Given the type of project that it is, the composition is adequate. The entire attempt is way better than most people could have done on a second painting. Keep at it.

[Cepro]

It's scary :P

[jalingo]

Great job! I was asked a while back to paint a mural for a restaurant but it went out of business before the owner got around to finalizing what he wanted. That would have been my first mural - and I've never painted one yet.

So, I'm curious - How long did it take you?

[misael]

Yes, I admit I was too harsh. Given that this is your first mural and second painting. You've got some real skills here. My critique was on the composition. I felt it was not well thought out. It has nothing to do with painting technique. Its a design issue. Also, just being "adequate" doesn't get you very far. Its the whole reason for this forum. When I post work here, I love when people say good job. But I grow from those who point out what's wrong with it. I don't what to be an "adequate" artist. I want to be an excellent one.

[Bowlin]

misael - Dude, your taking my reply way too serious and personal. You didn't really give a critique on the composition, just said it was lacking and, "It says nothing to me".

[Naberrie]

Alabaster, Thank you! It was so hard to price the mural, since this was my first time doing this. It worked out though. So, Nice to hear your comments about the mural and the statue. That was the part of the I was most worried about, at first. I wanted to make sure the color was just right on the statue. And that everything was spot on since she is such a well known symbol.
I might rework the base a little, when I go back to seal the wall. That was the part I did rush through..hahah. I wanted to make sure it was completed by the factory's open house.
On the lettering...I just don't like painting things that are very precise and structured. Like the stars!, not as free flowing to work on as everything else.:) That is why I despise lettering! It has to be perfect and it's not fun. lol I can do it usually though. I just don't like it very much. Thanks again!

Theodoric - thanks! :) I really hope to do more in the future.

Thanks Clanlord! I felt very patriotic working on this. It was kind of neat painting this during the election season.

Misael -That's ok,. I understand your opinion. I actually really like the layout :) This was design that the client decided on. He was very specific on what he wanted in the mural. And the he was very happy with the finished product. Everyone is different though. I don't think you can say I didn't put my heart in it. I will disagree with your opinion there. Because I very much so did, and enjoyed working on it! I don't think it would have turned out very well if I hadn't.

And I'm certain I will learn more with each project and design, but this one was specific to highlighting those elements.

Bowlin- I will definitely keep at it! I feel like I have a much better grasp of painting now. I'm looking forward to painting more.. Thank you for the nice comments!(:

Cepro- Scary? haha what :P

Hey Jalingo! Thanks ..It took me about 80 hours to complete. That's with prep and applying texture fill to the wall to make it smooth. I thought I could get it done faster. But I had some learning to do along the way.
welcome to CA! by the way :)

[misael]

Wow, that Misael guy is such a dick. Seriously, I read all I said and I think I came on too harsh and with no real critique. I apologize. Especialy for that "put you hear in to your work" coment. I know you put your heart in to it.

[carnal]

good job.. I have painted a few murals and made some efforts to bring a mural project to another level and have been shot down... do what the customer is paying you to paint... some have open minds to a fantastic vision, but most likely plain and rehashed images are the sell. present scetches of posibillities but be prepared to paint the original image. good work, this piece should drum up some mural work for you...

[Jeff Lafferty]

Nice Job!!! I tried the mural game for a while but it kicked my ass, you can obviously handle it though, can't wait to see what's next.

Jeff

[Carbono]

Well, just for the size of the work you deserve my praise. The rendering is very good too, everything turned out very nice, specially for one of your first experiences in it.

About the composition, I got to agree with what some people posted. I've felt that it would be way better if the elements interacted with each other. And the lighting on the Statue seems to be coming from a different point than the one on the eagle and on the flag.
Anyway, great work on the rendering, good stuff. And if the client is happy, this is the way to go!

Cheers!

[caspianta]

Hey Naberrie, I just PMd you, but I thought I would try to catch you here too in case anyone else had the same questions. I would love to know some of the specifics of your prep on this project. I am currently being asked to help with a mural at my job where we have glossy cinder block walls to work with. I'd be interested to know about how you primed/smoothed/painted the wall.