| Have you ever seen a crazy cool mural that you | | | | 3. A muralists’ greatest challenge is the ceiling. |
| can’t stop looking at? That is probably | | | | It takes a lot of energy to stand with an arm |
| because murals are simply a skillful attempt at | | | | extended for a long period of time while still |
| creating illusion. They can totally expand our | | | | maintaining a painterly accuracy and attention to |
| horizons and often times they transport us to | | | | detail. Thank god for masters such as Michelangelo |
| another time or place through images. In their | | | | who allowed himself a good decade to complete |
| simplest form, murals are simply decorative | | | | the Sistene ceilings. |
| artistic renderings on a common wall or living | | | | 4. The past definitely inspired the future. Modern |
| space that is generally grand in scale. Certain | | | | day muralists often times look to the past for |
| materials are needed to complete a mural but | | | | inspiration, especially in the France and Italy areas. |
| painting easel is not one of them. Here are some | | | | There are plenty of churches and villas that |
| truly interesting facts about the fantastic murals | | | | provide muralists all around the world a timeless |
| of our world. | | | | kind of inspiration. |
| 1. Typically, murals are largely inspired by six main | | | | Overall, muralists are fascinated with rich culture |
| topics: religion, the four seasons (fall, winter, | | | | and historical events and it shows up in their work. |
| spring, and summer), historical events, ages of | | | | Someone who paints a mural is super |
| man, politics, and social issues. | | | | multi-faceted, a very skilled painter, and has the |
| 2. In 1933 President Franklin Roosevelt initiated a | | | | talent to paint on a number of rough surfaces |
| mural program known as the Works Progress | | | | with accuracy. Some of the most famous |
| Administration (WPA) under the American New | | | | masters in the history of murals come from the |
| Deal. It was a wonderful act of patronage that | | | | Veronese and Teipolo centuries just like |
| enabled out-of-work artists the chance to paint | | | | Michelangelo. |
| murals and earn a small wage as a way to reduce | | | | Heatherlee is a muralist who is currently active in |
| the devastating effects of the Great Depression. | | | | the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. Check out her |
| Murals at this time made art accessible to people | | | | childrens murals by clicking this link or visiting and |
| and it led to local artist commissions and several | | | | book a mural with her today! |
| public murals to be created. | | | | |