Faux Painting for Profit

Connie wants to try this new business idea but has no idea where to begin starting a mural business without experience: 

Hi there,
I am very interested in wall murals and some day to start a wall mural business but I have no idea how to make them. I know about paint by number murals and ones using projectors, rub on transfers, big sticker murals and those using photographs. Could you direct me in the direction of actually learning how to make them myself. I really can't find much online that really explains the making of some of those techniques. Any information on how to get started would be greatly appreciated.

Connie Messer

Debra – THAT Painter Lady said "Again, I bow to the expert: Dawn Papandrea-Khan  Although we have all been in the "biz", Dawn is the youngest of our group and therefor closer to this subject."  

Get The Book Now!

Starting a mural business, or any business, can be a challenge.  For someone without any experience at all, starting a mural business will need to take time, practice, and the willingness to learn from your mistakes. 

Consider talking to your friends and family and getting their input on how they view your painting work.  Do they think that you have what it takes?  Ask them if they would be willing to have you paint in their homes.  This would be a good way for you to build up your portfolio. 

You cannot go out and meet clients without a few real murals under your belt.  Painting a mural on a wall and doing a paint by number painting on canvas are two completely different things.  Paint by number does not take much skill.  So many people now a days want to go into business, but they lack the skill. 

There is a good book out there called How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business: A Guide to Making Money in the Decorative Arts Read it, do more research, take a few local painting classes, and get some good experience.  It doesn't matter so much whether you have the education or art degree, but clients want to see if you are truly qualified by your experience painting other murals.  They will want to see pictures and examples of your work.

Another way to get your feet wet, is to start with simple children's murals – cartoons, trees, sky painted on a ceiling.  That may be a better direction for you to go in and a little more forgiving when it comes to making mistakes.  Using a projector will be a huge help for you.  Practice on large pieces of foam board, you can get them at any craft supply store. 

So, that is where I would begin starting a mural business without experience.  There is so much more involved in starting a business, but I would focus on these few things:
       
    1. Get input from others
    2. Practice painting in your own home or the homes of your friends and family
    3. Read books and do some research
    4. Take a few local painting classes (you will need to learn the basics, such as: shading and perspective.
    5. Tackle a few simple children's murals (cartoons, trees, sky painted on ceiling)
    6. Practice, Practice, Practice

Once you have some of this down, then we can go to the next step of marketing yourself.  Good luck!  DAWN

Dawn Papandrea-Khan
Surfaces with Paint
(845) 669-9093
Website: www.surfaceswithpaint.com

How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business: A Guide to Making Money in the Decorative Arts

This entry was posted on Friday, June 13th, 2008 at 9:44 pm and is filed under Start Your Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.