It has been a while since I worked on an old world style mural. One of my favorite things about painting this style is the layering of the washy paints and watching each layer transform the space. Check out the time-lapse video I made of this project and read below to learn more about the design and the process. I received a request for this commission from designer Martin Durkin. He wanted to create a beautiful old world style mural above the wainscoting in his dining room. The home has incredible woodwork throughout and has a very masculine feel. So it needed to be dark. We also wanted to created a story as you walk around the room. I love hiding interesting little things in my mural work, so we played with some fun ideas to make this mural special. BeforeHere are a few before photos of the space. As you can see, the woodwork in this room is pretty incredible. When considering the architectural details for this kind of mural, there were a few things i considered when I was working on the design.
The DesignWhen planning a mural, I always start with a black and white sketch of the overall layout and design. I don't add a lot of detail on these. That allows me to have a map of the layout, yet the freedom to make adjustments as I work. Here are a few things that impacted the layout of the design:
The under-paintingMost of the time, when I start a mural, I will begin with an under-painting in Yellow Ocher. I create a value study as I lay out the composition, so I can see the overall design and the initial contrast as it flows from one point to another. LayeringIn the time-lapse video above, you can see how I do several layers as I paint. I laid in the sky, then the hills and trees, then added some details. Followed by a glaze over everything. Then the last step was to add the finer details. The final PhotosThe best part of working on a mural is seeing the way it transforms a space. I was so please to see this room complete. It looks like this mural was meant for the room. It compliments the space without dominating it, made the ceiling feel higher, and created a more intimate feel. For more information on working with me on your project, fill out the contact form below
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10/10/2022 10:25:19 am
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Ellie McIntoshEllie McIntosh, grew up as a creative thinker. Inspired by her father, a furniture designer an inventor and musician, she took the path to creativity. Her artistic journey has taken her as far as France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Spain, Germany, Morocco, and many places throughout the United States and Mexico, where she utilized various Archives
February 2021
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