DECORATIVE PAINTER
Outlook
Decorative painting is a creative endeavor, and most painters work alone. A drawback can be that self-employed decorative painters have no benefits. You may also have to work evenings and weekends. There are companies, however, that specialize in decorating furniture so it is possible to get a full-time job.
Murals
A mural is a type of painting that can be created on a grand scale. Often seen on the exteriors of buildings or interior walls, murals tend to be much larger than traditional paintings that hang in homes. Murals can add a dynamic color statement to the outside of a building or create an important point of interest or mood within a room.
Before beginning to paint, the mural artist designs an image to fit the scale of the project. Once the wall has been cleaned, sealed, and primed, the painter transfers the image onto the wall. The artist can work with a grid, with a projector that throws an image of the drawing on to the wall, or freehand.
Fresco painting is a type of mural technique which is created on freshly spread, moist, lime plaster walls. For this, the painter makes a cartoon (a full-scale drawing), fastens it to the wall, and presses the outlines into the plaster wall. The artist uses the outlines as a guide when applying the paint. In fresco painting, the paint is made from powdered pigments that are mixed with water.
Teaching is a wonderful way to help others learn the craft while keeping your own skills fresh. In addition, decorative painters often branch out into other fields. Many have become art product salespeople, designers, authors of instructional books, and demonstrators at craft shows or fairs.
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