MURAL TIP #13 | List of Materials You Need to Paint a Mural

It can be overwhelming to know where to start when figuring out everything you need to paint a mural. After painting so many of them, I love to keep all of my materials organized in one big tub, and would highly recommend you organize everything in a way that works for you! Here's a list of the basic materials needed to paint a mural.

1. Paint: You'll need acrylic paint for a mural as it dries quickly and can be easily thinned or thickened. I like the well-known brands Sherwin Williams, Behr, and Ben Moore, but my absolute favorite brand is Nova. They have fine art colors as their colorways and they come in various transparencies, so it makes it really convenient for mixing. If you’re interested in ordering them (I love buying the quarts with screw-on lids!) you can shop through THIS LINK to get 10% off your first order!

2. Paintbrushes: As mentioned in my previous post, synthetic brushes like nylon or polyester work well for acrylic paint. You'll need a variety of brush sizes to accommodate different parts of the mural. Try to have rollers, big brushes, and tiny fine art brushes on hand. By the way, my list of my supplies is right HERE.

3. Surface: The surface you paint on will depend on the location of the mural, but common options include walls, canvas, or boards. Make sure the surface is clean, smooth, and primed if necessary. The primer you use will depend on exactly what the surface is, but one that works for most surfaces is Zinsser 123.

4. Palette: A palette is a flat surface where you can mix your paint and keep it easily accessible. If it’s a really large area, I prefer to use tubberware with lids.

5. Water and a container: You'll need water to thin the paint and clean your brushes.

6. Rags or paper towels: These will come in handy for wiping your brushes or cleaning up spills. I ALWAYS have baby wipes with me at all times.

7. Masking tape or painter's tape: This can be used to protect areas of the mural you don't want to get paint on. My favorite brand is Frog Tape.

8. Reference materials: You may want to have reference materials on hand, such as photos or sketches, to help guide you as you paint. I always bring a printed version as it’s a lot easier than holding my phone or ipad for a reference.

9. Paint Clothes: It’s a good idea to wear protective clothing, such as an apron or old clothes, as acrylic paint can be messy and hard to wash out.

10. Tools: I always have a paint can opener, scissors, tape, stir sticks, and pencils. Those little things are so easy to forget! Again, my list of my supplies is right HERE.

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below! I talk about all of this and more in my mural courses HERE, or simply sign up below for my newsletter and to get more tips and tricks sent right to you!