Mural Technique: Priming
First off, let’s define: according to the ever-handy Dictionary.com, to prime is “to prepare or make ready for a particular purpose or operation.” So, priming a wall means preparing a wall for the mural to be painted on it. Primer seals the wall and also allows subsequent layers of paint to adhere to it.
Still, you might be asking yourself when exactly do you prime, and what do you prime with? Answer: Once your wall is clean and thoroughly dry, it’s time to apply the primer. It is important that the primer be water-based. This allows an array of any media to be applied successfully on top of it. My primer of choice is gesso. This primer is most usually white. An acrylic mid-tone can be applied on top of that, if the artist finds it helpful.
When applying gesso, it is a good idea to thin it down somewhat. But, be careful. If the mixture becomes too watery, the gesso could end up cracking and really not serving its intended purpose. Matte medium is a good mixer and will prevent such a thing from happening.
Of course, the current wall color – whether it be yellow, red or any other color - could be what you desire as the background for the mural work. (Take a look at my Art Deco Den to see what I mean.) If the wall is clean and the existing painted surface is water-based, it is fine to paint right on it. Abrading the surface a bit well help the paint adhere. Or, you can use clear gesso to prime a surface to maintain the background wall color to a limited extent.
Things get more complicated when a wall is brand new. As in, never painted and not prepared in any way, shape or form. The articulately detail-oriented folks at Golden Acrylics recommend the following regarding primers in such situations: “To determine the best primer for a specific surface, we suggest artists contact a local supplier of architectural coatings. Such companies have extensive experience with priming the broad spectrum of building supplies, and typically have specific primers for the surface the mural is to be painted on. Their recommendations will also take the environmental concerns of the area into account. We have found that architectural and maintenance paints are competitively priced, meaning that a product that costs more than a similar product will typically perform better as well.”
