Dr. Seuss Mural

I was recently able to cross a mural off my bucket list… Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax”!  I love Dr. Seuss’ style; I find it translates very well as a mural.  The bright colours, simple yet expressive forms and the sketchy element it brings is very freeing to paint.  This vibrant mural was for a very loved one year old girl.  Not only was I able to tackle “The Lorax” but also “Oh The Places You’ll Go” and “Horton Hears a Who”.  I collaborated with Lena from Muse Signs to add some very insightful Dr. Seuss quotes.  I think this mural will inspire for years to come!

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Musical Mural For The Academy of Music

This past weekend I had the pleasure of painting a mural for the Academy of Music located in Milton.  This group of incredibly friendly and talented people recently redecorated their studio and wanted to add a final touch in the hallway.  I think it turned out great!  Oh, and try to guess what piece of music this mural is based on?

IMG_5149Preliminary concept sketch:

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The pops of colour are based on the vibrant room colours:

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Please contact Nesting Story if you have been thinking of adding a mural to your home or business.  All in person consultations, concept sketches and quotes are complimentary.  You may be surprised how budget friendly Nesting Story’s murals are!

Dr. Seuss, Cat In The Hat Mural (Nursery / Child’s Room)

I recently finished a Cat In The Hat mural for a nursery.  This was the first time I have painted a Dr. Seuss mural and I loved it.  Dr. Seuss did most of his book’s illustrations himself and had a very unique sketchy style.  It was very freeing to paint this way and I think it turned out great!  Next on my bucket list is a Lorax mural… any takers?

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IMG_5082Batman, my client’s cat kept a close eye on me while I was painting and kept reaching his cute little paws under the door.

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A Mural Comes to Life!

Nesting Story began with my children’s murals and bloomed from there.  I love meeting with a new client and hearing their exciting ideas and plans for their child’s room.  Sometimes the child is older and has a lot of great ideas to add, other times the little one hasn’t arrived yet and I am meeting with very excited parents-to-be.  Whatever the case may be and whoever my little client is, there is a lot of thought and love that goes into each mural I paint.  I wanted to show how the process works and maybe inspire you along the way!

Step 1: The Initial Consultation

I like to meet with potential clients in person whenever possible.  It gives me a better feel as to what they have been thinking about and it is very helpful to see the space.  Any kind of inspirational images that can be brought to this meeting is also very helpful.  From this point I can create the concept sketch.

Step 2: The Concept Sketch

I take all of the elements and ideas that are going into the mural and create a concept sketch.  Each Item is named and numbered.

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Step 3: Sketch and Layout on Walls

Once the concept sketch has been approved it is time to start.  Most of the time the walls need to be painted a base colour.  This needs to be done before the mural can start.  I would be happy to recommend a painter for this process.  Using small inspirational images and the concept sketch I then freehand draw the mural on to the wall.  Once the sketch on the wall has been approved it is time to start painting.

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Step 4: Painting the Mural

It is time to paint!  I use acrylic (not oil) based paints which dry quickly and do not give off fumes.  I usually like to get the overall colours on first and leave the details until the end.

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Step 5: The Finished Product

At the end I add the finishing touches including highlights and shadows.  Then… ta da!  The mural is done and ready for your little one to enjoy!

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