MORE ON MURALS: Making Your Mark
What is a mural?
Related to the French word “mur”, meaning “wall”, the term “mural” is derived from the Latin mūrālis, which means “of a wall”, derived from the Latin mūrus, or…you guessed it,
WALL!
Not surprisingly, the most literal meaning of the word “mural” is a painting on a wall. However, the term has expanded to encompass a wide range of both interior and exterior applications to the built environment, and a variety of architectural surfaces.
Murals can be painted on panels or canvas, and then affixed to a wall, fence, ceiling, floor, room divider, or roof! They can be graphical, patterned, or design-oriented in nature,
or depict intricate scenes so real that we might find ourselves stooping to pick up what we thought was a feather on the floor, only to find that our hand brushes against its painted surface…
even if the scene is fantastical!
But, how does the artist get from the concept, or idea for a mural, of whatever sort, to the finished, often very large image you might enjoy in your living room, local restaurant, non-profit organization, mall, or
patio fence?
Well, through the mockup process, namely the creation of a to scale model, or prototype of the intended mural. This is a way to get a sense of what the completed mural could look like, and catch potential aesthetic, functional or structural problems before they become actual ones!
From canvas to walls, to doors to exterior fences seen through a second story window, murals can happen anywhere their makers can wield a brush, adhere a tile, or make a mark,one of our most elemental human urges. Think about the power and wonder of cave paintings…
Future posts will explore and expand upon the act of mural, and mark-making, so hold on to your ladder (or scaffold), and enjoy the ride…
How do YOU “make your mark”?
If you feel so moved, please share about it with us here.
We love to hear from YOU.
Remember, we are all marking our way through this thing called Life, together.
Artissima - Blog of ArtiFactory Studio 