On March 2, 2014, Art World School held a mural painting class for the very first time in the school’s temporary location at West Union Village. 25 Art World School students were able to paint their own artwork on the walls of the space. Art World School teachers introduced mural painting the students with a brief lecture on the history of mural painting, how it is different then the art they usually work on in Art World School classes, important characteristics, and then how to design as well as complete their own mural art.

 Students painted were able to paint their dream art in large scale with acrylic paint and showcase the drawing as well as painting skills they have developed in Art World School classes. They were also able to utilize their understanding of art theory, lines and shapes, principles of compositions, contrast, proportion, and more concepts that were learned and practiced in Art World School classes.

Here is the content on murals that Art World School teachers introduced to students at the beginning of the class:

Mural – A painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall 

Murals of some kind have existed throughout most of human history with a variety of reasons, thoughts, and mediums used to create them. 

In fact, many of you may be familiar with the original murals- Cave Paintings, like those found in the LubangJeriji Saleh cave which can be dated back to 40,000 years ago! 

Another easily referenced example of murals would be the paintings seen on the walls of Egyptian Tombs and Minoan Palaces, from as far back as 3150 BC. Murals, of some sort, can be found throughout time in one form or another in basically every culture. 

In the more modern day there are things like the Mexican Muralism art movement from the 20th century, or even the graffiti and street art movements of today! 

Depending on the materials that culture had, however, the mediums used would change. For example, during the Middle Ages murals would be painted on dry plaster. A little over 700 years ago in Italy, there was a resurgence of people who would actually paint on wet plaster, so that the murals would dry into the wall. 

Fresco, one of the best-known techniques for mural painting, uses pigments in water with a damp lime wash (lime the mineral not lime the fruit) that would be painted over a large surface. Marouflage is where you take a painted canvas and stick it onto a wall with something like plaster or cement so it becomes part of the wall. Nowadays things like oil and water-based paint, transfer paper, spray paint, and more can be used to make murals. 

People would make murals for all sorts of reasons, because they’re very large and very public. Often they would be used as ways to get a message from a specific wealthy person or entity out, but equally they became utilized as a form of protest or memorial. Murals have a long, varied, and complicated history and if you’re interested in or enjoy them, we highly recommend you do your own research into them!