Caroline's DIY mural project is a beauty and a great inspiration for those of you looking to spice up your bedroom decor (or any room, for that matter) and those bare walls with silhouette style designs or graphics by using a simple projector...a technique she's been so kind to share with us below...
I designed the mural for my sisters bedroom. The drawing was done in Illustrator and then projected on the wall using a video projector.
I traced the outline with a pencil. And then started filling it in making sure the pencil marks we're covered. I used artist paint brushes for this. It took about 3 coats to get the color right.
I used lacquer paint because it was a leftover from a different project but I would advise people to use emulsion or acrylic paint for a smoother finish (with lacquer it's very hard to get rid off 'stripes' from the paint brush.)
[Thanks to Caroline of Carrie Can]
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Comments (12)
Hmmm... I wonder if anyone I know has a projector I could borrow...
Or I could do it the difficult way and print out of the design on multiple sheets of cardstock, cutout the design, and assemble the pages on the wall.
for how cheap wall mural stickers are, and for how much hassle this looks like, id much rather just buy something
So lovely. I love silhouettes. And the colors are great. I wish MY sister would come over and do this to my apartment!
My problem is the projector:/ I've seen this idea in the British show "changing rooms" many times, but no one I know has a projector and definitely I'm not buying one:/
Why would a projector be a problem? You can get a craft projector for less than 30 bucks, or even better, just walk into a Michael's with one of their billions of coupons and pick a no-namebrand one for less than 15. The problem is getting the brushstrokes straight, THAT is the problem. lol Great job!
lol they f*cked up my direct link, but here goes the long version:
http://www.hearthsong.com/hearthsong/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1005&pgc=375&country=0&occ=1005&cm_mmc=merc_datafeed-_-product-_-375&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=F136F3C0-4DF6-DD11-80A9-000423C27502
Very nice!
I did the same yesterday in my bedroom with an Obey Giant image.
I'd like to show it to you, how can I send you the photos?
I love the IKEA bedsheets!!!! Was thinking of getting them myselves but didnt know they had them for a double bed.
Anyway great painting! Would to try it myself!
Our library rents projectors, if you were so inclined.
I feel so honoured to have my project featured on here. Unfortunately somehow the link to my blog was lost so here it is http://carriecan.blogspot.com
Oh and Serrakat, you would be surprised how easy it is, it took me only 15 minutes a paint layer...
Using a projector is so much quicker and more accurate, and you can paint things you normally wouldnt believe you are capable of!
I teach art to teenagers and they're amazed at how good their work is after using just a simple old overhead projector.
You might be able to pick one up from a school that is throwing thier olds ones out.
http://melbcitymurals.com.au
I've done this I think in 4 or 5 buildings now, first with overhead projectors, once with a video projector I borrowed from my office and once freehand with the copy-by-squares method. All worked great, though the squares took the longest.
(squares method: http://www.learn-to-draw-and-paint.com/transfer-enlarge-sketches.html )
The other thing I wanted to add is that I used standard latex wall paint - you get a texture/finish and thickness that is appropriate to interior walls. I've used a flat pre-mixed color for line art like this, but latex paint also mixes very well. Buy small cans of the primary colors plus white and black and you can have a more or less full painter palette. Mix and keep it in disposable tupperware containers if you wont finish in a single application.