The Process

For Public Paint-By-Number Murals

After consideration of all the environmental and social concerns regarding a public place, a community may decide that public art will enhance their quality of life. Public art may also help achieve specific goals they have established for their neighborhood. Whether the mural is to be placed on a public or privately owned building, the owner must be engaged and supportive of the endeavor. The local sign ordinance should be reviewed to determine whether any municipal approvals will be necessary.

Decide on a theme for the artwork.

It may be decided solely by the owner of the property.
It may be a collaborative effort of community members.
It may the effort of a committee selected by the owner or the community.

Develop the artwork.

It may be an original work by a commissioned artist.
It may be a copy of a well-recognized and historically significant artist. If so, there may be no copyright issues to be resolved.
It may be a copy of a more recent work by an established artist. If this is the case, the artist must be sought out for permission and possibly paid a fee.
It may be a collage of images contributed through community design sessions with a particular group of people.
Select a color palette.

Prepare a draft of the work.

The draft must be in scale with actual surface where it will be installed.
The draft should be a large poster size so it can be reviewed by the owners of the building and other involved participants.
The draft should be produced in full color to demonstrate the palette.

Translate the artwork to a paint-by-number picture.

An artist or skilled person must reduce the draft poster (a copier or scanner is recommended) and convert it to line drawing.
Assign colors and numbers. Write numbers in each space of the drawing.
Copy the line drawing onto transparencies or save the artwork as an electronic file.

Prepare the surface to receive the painting.

It may need masonry, metals or carpentry repair.
It may, most likely, need a fresh coat of primer so that the paint will adhere well.
Clear the public space surrounding the mural of debris, creating a safe and pleasant space to work.

Gather needed materials.

Primer.
Water based paints, brushes, plastic containers with lids, drop cloths, ladders, etc.

Project image onto the prepared wall.

If transparencies are being used, this is done after dark with an over-head projector.
Enlist volunteers of any skill level to trace the lines and color-numbers onto the primed wall.

Prepare the paint materials.

Disperse paints into small containers (1 quart or 1 pint) and label the containers with the number assigned to that color.
Clean and dry brushes of various sizes.
Have ladders, buckets of water and rags ready at hand.
Provide drop cloths if the protection of the ground surface is a concern.

Paint the mural and celebrate the space.

Volunteers of any skill level can fill the shapes with paint.
Mistakes and drips will occur, but 95% of the work will be entirely acceptable.
Provide food and music to entice the volunteers to complete the work.
Have chairs handy for the observers. Many people will come just to watch and cheer the painters on.
Contact the press well in advance with a press release.
Photograph/record the entire process by volunteers and/or professionals.
Ask the volunteers to clean up after finishing the mural. Seal paints with lids and wash brushes. Only water based paint is used.
Ask skilled persons to return the following day to correct the 5% of the mural which is not acceptable.