What Kind of Paint for Murals?

[magicgoo]

If I want to paint some art on a couple of my indoor walls, then what should I use for long lasting awesomeness?

I've used acrylics in the past, but now I need washable paints. Oils would be way too expensive for the size I'm doing. And, of course, it's indoors, so I can't use spray paints. What's left?

[bizarre]

did you have any problems with acrylics? if not i'd suggest that, through an airbrush

or maybe if you could find a way to get a bunch of latex primer and mix pigments into it or something... i dunno.

is it on wood? sheetrock? tile? wallpaper? plywood? cement?

[jfwalls]

Regular latex house paints work fine. There are so many colors available now that you have a very wide spectrum to choose from. Just watch out, they dry quickly.

[CKWorth]

The company I work for does murals (indoors mostly) as part of their business. They have always used house paint, Sherwin Williams. Use any brand you like.

[l.e.b]

Just use spray paints, ventilate your house, open windows wear a mask

[Bruce Pluto]

Hello magicgoo,

Since I use acrylics in my art if it were me I would use them. The permenant kind should last very well. As far as clean up goes sealing the mural with satin or semi-gloss varnish should keep it there a long time and help with any light clean-up ( wiping down with a wet rag and such). A gallon or quart would do. Just be sure to open windows and follow the safety precautions on the can and I will add, check with all the folks that will be effected with this project ( parents, landlord, roommates...... so on)

Let us see the finished results when your done. BTW you have some very nice art on your members site


Bruce

[Ilaekae]

What ever you do, don't ever use car enamels on a plaster wall. I've seen people do this because of the colors available in spray can form, and it totally destroys the wall over time...very little time. I think it has something to do with sealing the plaster up and trapping moisture in it. The plaster starts to "rot" into this powdery white moldy-looking stuff and just crumbles off the wall. Ultimately, you have to rip everything down and replaster.

[magicgoo]

Cool, everyone! thanks for all of the great advice!

I never had problems with acrylics. I just didn't think they were washable on a wall surface. I like the idea of coating them with something. That should work out fine.

Although, for the size of the project, I might just wind up using latex house paint.

When I'm done with the project, I will definitely post pictures. We have two black half-walls in our dining room area and our house is decorated with an Asian theme. I want to paint a giant red koi fish wrapping around one of the black walls in sort of a tattoo style.

Oh, and thanks for the art comment, Bruce Plato

[Redder]

If you have painted indoor walls make sure to check what type of base paint was used *** before *** you start working on your mural.

An oil base paint will cause an acrylic mural to slowly peel off over the years unless prepared properly.

[staigerman]

If I want to paint some art on a couple of my indoor walls, then what should I use for long lasting awesomeness?

I've used acrylics in the past, but now I need washable paints. Oils would be way too expensive for the size I'm doing. And, of course, it's indoors, so I can't use spray paints. What's left?

Perhaps a mural painter can help answer the question. I know of one at http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/dotm/FrankRodgers/

there's a lot of Dogwaffle art on this page which is not related to murals but near the top of the page there's also a photo of a real mural he did and that's what I know of him, he says (with a lot of humility) that alas he's not an artist, he's a painter ;-)

Check with him, Frank's a good guy, perhaps he has a recommendation for what to use for indoor. I think he has done mostly outdoor work but it's just a feeling I have and maybe he still can recommend something for your indoor situation.

[sidepocketsuz]

I recently just finished my second mural. I used acrylics and then covered it with a couple of coats of polyurathane. I think the results were good and it's washable too. I used a semi gloss, but next time I'm going to go with a satin finish. Good Luck

[Qitsune]

I think Gilead does murals professionally and I gathered from his posts that he uses latex house paints...