MURAL TIP #9 | How to get Your First Mural Project

Sometimes the art world can be so sneaky, like hearing, “hard work and hustle will get you anything!” Okay sure, but I don’t just want to give you a bunch of generic tips and tricks that you should try. I’m going to tell you the exact methods I used to get my first big mural job.

So let’s get right to it: how do you get that first mural job?

Getting the first of anything is tough, right? Kind of like if you want a certain job, but they want you to have experience (umm, how are you supposed to do that, you need the job first!) I feel you.

So the first step is the most important. Start now. No, not with getting the mural job…with doing the things that will get you the mural job. Awesome clients, just like anything else, won’t pop up out of nowhere; they are attracted to you once you become who they want to hire. Right now you might be showing that you’re a crafter, and they want to hire a muralist. Ya feel me?

So where do we start?

I want you to start TODAY doing a few things that will take you once step closer to being a muralist.

• Post mockups of your current work on larger walls

• Get a large chalkboard (or paint your door with chalk paint) and do some larger chalk art

• Tell people you are looking for larger projects

• Email nonprofits in your town offering your services for a discount

This image is a little blunt, but it’s true, we can always do a liiiittle more :)

This is how I got my first paid mural project

I live in a ski resort town, love skiing, and really wanted to paint a mural for the local resort (which is quite a big business). Years prior, I had held watercolor classes at the same resort (NOTE: begin building relationships and networks with the type of people/businesses you want to work with) so they already trusted me.

I emailed the lady I had worked with previously to ask if there were any walls that might need to be spruced up and could use a mural. I got a response (NOTE: any response is actually awesome, be happy if you do, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t, it’s normal) but the reply was a no. They didn’t have any space for one currently.

Fast forward to A YEAR later…I got an email from the same woman who asked if I would paint a mural in the entrance of their new building they were constructing. (NOTE: an entire year passed before I got a yes. A year! Relationships take time.)

Here I am, finishing that mural. I kept it super simple by using black Montana Acrylic Markers for the entire thing. This allowed me to go into my first project with complete confidence.

Now it’s your turn, what steps are you going to take today to kickstart your next project?!

PS. I have an entire section in my “Paint Murals Like A Pro” course dedicated to talking about how to get clients and work with them like a professional. The entire course is available for you to start today right HERE.