Need Help with Mural
Thrasher Brown
My friend is a freelance artist in sunny Southern California.
She's recently gotten involved in an exciting mural project at a school
there and has done the master drawing of 14 famous people
With the help of students they've started the mural.
Thinking that regular acrylic paint would be durable enough to use on an
outside wall of the school, she invested in over $100 in Liquetex acrylic
tubes of paint and has primed their multi-purpose room outside wall with 3
coats of gesso.
Another friend of hers, an art teacher at the local high school told my
friend that erred, that she should've been using "Artistic Acrylic Color,"
which is used by most muralists in the So. Cal. area.
The art teacher told my friend that the "Artistic Acrylic Color" would be
much more durable for outdoors.
The art teacher thought that since the mural wall gets very little
sunshine, that if we put a good acrylic sealer over the finished mural
painting that it MIGHT last, but they're just not sure.
Thus, I'm seeking out your opinion and expertise on the matter. They plan
to have an anti-graffiti coating put on the mural, as well.
If you can help me with any of the specifics of my friend's project and
problems, I'd be most appreciative.
Thank you!
---
Thrasher Brown
--
Darmok and Gilaad at Tenagra
Pat Strong
What kind of gesso?
Your primer is the coat that attaches the painting to the wall, of all your
layers, this one has to be the most secure. It needs to be formulated for
exteriors. It needs to be applied in a manner consistent to good exterior
paint finishing. That means a clean substrate, and no weird acids or chemical
coatings (on concrete or brick surfaces) to interfere with the film.
The artists pigment use the same acrylic as the wall paint types... it is just
much more concentrated and purer. The pigments are the same, more
concentrated and purer. You pay more for Artist quality, but you get a lot
more too. They have a higher tinting strength and build a stronger film that
is more translucent/transparent. It should only make a difference, though, if
you are painting for the ages. On a wall that is somewhat protected, by a
deep overhang or on a porch, the others should hold up for quite a few years.
As long as that primer is well adhered, that is!
Good luck
Pat
Pat Strong
another consideration is light fastness. On Artists color, like Grumbacher, you
can either request a lightfastness chart, or you can read it on the label. Some
pigments, especially organic ones, like Lake colors, are inherently more
fugitive. Some reds, violets, and blues are very unstable in UV. Go to a good
(university?) artists supply store and get the pamphlets, or get a tube of a
particular brand, call the 800 number and get one sent to you.
there is probably online information... look for words like light fastness tests
for paint and artists or muralists supplies.
Pat
nmaples
I can tell you this.... for what she is doing the paint she brought is 'just
fine' ....
the fact of the matter is that when it comes to paint it is all sales talk....
this is how it works....
those of us that can by butt loads of paint and pay good money for it.... like
the automotive industry Or the Industrial coatings industry..... get the best
stuff... (that is cemicals used in paint)
now how much volume and price do Muralist, SignPainters, and especially Artist
generate...
very, very, little in comparison to those industries...
So yes if your paying a bit more for 'Artist quality' paint then your probably
getting a 'bit' more in better matterials but I can tell you that 'bit' is
very small....
the first concideration is that you cannot use Industrial strength cause you
are using kids to help paint right?
So the Artist colors are the best bet and I can tell you that Liquetex is hard
to beat for price v.s. performance... I have used it many times for mural work
that demanded a water based Acrilic application.... Artistic Acrylic Color
simply is 'no' better than the Liquetex in my experience.... I live in West
Texas .... we get Hot Summers... Cold Winters... rain... DustStorms on a
regular basis... (Texas Panhandle)
So what I am saying is it sounds like your freind should be fine....
Is that sucker gona fade... ?
You bet it is.... but it would have done it with the other stuff too....
tell the person who recomend the Artistic Acrylic Color to just go right ahead
and paint a little patch of red their at the end and see just how long it last
next to the Liquitex.....
My money says they fade out just the same...
NorvMan