This is a question that I just received from one of my readers concerning what paint to use.  I thought it would be helpful for those of you “Do It Yourselfers” out there.

“My husband is trying to paint a Wiinie the Pooh mural on a wall.  He has drawn winnie, eeyore, piglet, tiger and roo.  He has already drawn it on the wall and he is at the painting stage.  It’s not that big…it’s about 3 1/2 feet wide by 2 feet in height. I was wondering whether or not we could use the small paint samples that they sell in paint stores to paint the mural.  We need about 10 different colours and buying 10 different colour quarts to do this picture is a bit too big.

I went to Benjamin Moore and they sell small sample sizes and their paint is in between a flat and an eggshell.  Is that okay to use on a mural.  I tried to get more information about the paint regarding durability….does it leave finger prints, does it smudge, can it be washed..etc but I did not get a definite answer.  What do you think?  Is this okay to use?

I also went to Home Depot and they too have sample sizes but they told me the paint comes in flat and it’s not durable…meaning it will leave fingerprints and it could smudge.

We also went to Michaels craft store and looked at their acrylic paints but we found that a small tube of acrylic paint is about the same price as a quart of can of paint and we were not able to find the exact colours that we wanted.

Please help from a desperate mom-to-be who is due in a couple of weeks!!”

Yes, you can definitely use the small sample paints that many paint brands are now offering.  It is a great alternative to purchasing acrylic paints which you may have to mix to get the appropriate color.

As an artist, I often use all different kinds of paint for a mural job.  I use latex for the base work such as backgrounds, landscapes, etc.  I love to use those little mini rollers and roll on the larger areas.  This saves a huge amount of time.  And then I can go in and do the detail work with my acrylics and even mix in some latex as well.  And the acrylics don’t have to be those expensive tubes either.  I have a whole collection of acrylic craft paint that I use.  There are a lot more color choices.   And because my local paint store blesses me with those small latex sample paints that are discontinued, I even use those.

One suggestion I do have for when you do use both latex and acrylic paint is to mix in a little matte medium to extend the fluidity of the paint.  You can purchase this from any art supply store.  This is my little trick when working with my paint.

Instead of investing in expensive paint, spend your money on a few good brushes!

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Mural ideas are endless when it comes to the baby nursery.  And one theme that we have not yet written about is the BUMBLE BEE theme.  And I found some really cute ideas that would work for both boys and girls.

www.joansmurals.com

www.sbwalls.com

www.rollergirlpainting.com

www.capmurals.com

www.featurewalls.ie

Cute right?  I think the bumble bee themed nursery is a great idea!  And how about some bedding and decor ideas to go with it?

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I was looking for inspiration for a new post and found this gorgeous lavender inspired baby nursery mural on www.sensible-chic.com.  Oh my goodness, don’t you just love it?  The soft pastel mural colors are perfect with the chocolate brown furniture.  And I love how they brought in purple accents in the chair and window treatments.  The mural has a Peter Rabbit feel to it – so beautiful and perfect for a baby girl’s room.

I am not 100% sure how these walls were done.  I suppose you can accomplish this look with a stencil design and silver metallic paint.  You can create just about any custom design and have it made via a stencil company.  You can tie in elements of your baby nursery bedding onto the walls with a painted design.  The metallic silver paint really pops against the purple base paint.  I found this one on www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com. 

Wow!!!  This room is amazing as well.  It is not quite lavender, but when I saw it, I just had to include it.   Found it on www.littlecrowninteriors.com.  Has a wonderful mix of modern and traditional.

I found this lavender baby nursery on www.decorate-the-nursery.blogspot.com.  The ceiling looks like it was done with an allover stencil pattern.  And because there seems to be more ceiling space than wall space, what a great way to bring balance and softness to the space.

This last picture is by www.MyWonderfulWalls.com.  They offer a lot og great do it yourself stencil options.  I just love the pops of bright pink and white against this rich lavender.  Such a happy baby nursery!

What do you think of lavender in the nursery?  What would your first girly color choice be?  Have you considered using lavender instead of the traditional pink?  We would love to hear from you!  Leave your comments below.

And be sure to check out these great lavender baby nursery items, such as bedding, window treatments, blankets, and more!

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I am honored to present to you another very talented nursery mural artist.  Her name is Allyn Howard.  She is a fellow New Yorker stationed in Brooklyn.  I have asked her my usual list of questions so you can get to know her a little bit better.

How long have you been in business?

I’ve been painting custom murals for about 6 years. I’ve worked as a scenic artist in the film business for over a decade, while I’ve continued to show and sell artwork.

How did you get started?

In 2003 I was exhibiting a range of paintings that included some for children’s rooms. A buyer asked if I’d be interested in painting a playroom for his daughter. I had made plenty of large artwork over the years, but was a little nervous once I saw the size of the room. They had just moved into a fabulous house in Mount Kisco, NY. It was by far the best experience I’ve had up to that point. I really enjoyed the freedom they gave me, especially creating the fun little scenarios between the animals. I think I’ve improved since that initial project, but I’m still very fond of it!

What is your favorite nursery mural that you have ever done?

It’s hard to say because whichever mural I’ve most recently completed tends to become my favorite. Right now it could be a tie between a few. I love “Space Mouse”, which I did for a toy store and two jungle themed murals I’ve painted. I also enjoy painting animals in cars, airplanes, hot air balloons… I have a “Scooter Dog” character I’ve done several times. I just can’t choose one above all.

Is there a nursery mural theme that you have not done yet that you would love to do?

I would be interested in an underwater or sea side theme, outer space, maybe monsters, but I definitely have a thing for painting the cute & furry ones like bunnies, dogs, bears, birds…

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

My business has expanded to include a line of greeting cards and baby & toddler tees. I’m currently launching lines of images & characters for licensing on products, predominantly in the children’s market. I feel really lucky to be painting murals for nurseries and kids’rooms. It’s great to see how a young child reacts to their new room. I often paint a nursery before the baby is born and it’s just as uplifting to see the excitement expressed by parents!

Check out Allyn’s website to see more of her work!  www.AllynHoward.com

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We always enjoy meeting fellow artists who share in the passion of painting baby nurseries and children’s rooms.  Robin Weiss is a mural painter out of Forest Hills, New York.  Her company is called Paint Your World.

Here are a few questions that we have asked Robin so that you can get to know her a little bit better.

• How long have you been in business? Paint Your World has been bringing joy to client’s walls and furniture since 2000

• What areas do you service? Nassau County, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx

• How did you get started? I have a background in fine arts, and a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Michigan. After graduation, I embarked on a career in the business sector of the textile and fashion industry, however, I always knew I wanted to own my own business and use my artistic talents to make a living. By chance, when a friend was having her first baby in early 2000, she asked if I could paint a mural in her nursery. My response was “why not?” and after a completion, I knew I had found the career I had been searching for. Paint Your World was born!

• What is your favorite nursery mural that you have ever done? (include picture) It’s so hard to choose a favorite! Each one is like my own baby – but if pressed, I would have to say “Hey Diddle Diddle” is one of my top choices. I developed a close friendship with that client afterwards, and when they began to expand their family, they had to move and leave behind that wonderful mural. She was heartbroken, but has since hired me again to paint a new one in their new home!

• Is there a nursery mural theme that you have not done yet that you would love to do? I can’t think of a particular one; I love illustrating scenes from children’s nursery rhymes, so anytime a client requests that it’s extra fun for me.

• What is your contact info in case anyone would like to reach you for your services? My website is www.paint-your-world.com, email: artist@paint-your-world.com, tel: 718-997-1435

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Here are a few more pictures of Robin’s work.  My favorite is the flower headboard.  Isn’t that cute?

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This first one is pretty wild right?  Black and white stripes in a babies room – wow!  I found this one on Design Dazzle.

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This baby nursery has a painted black cityscape and they combined the dark with white furniture.   Found this one on www.ChickieDee.com.

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This one looks more like a teen girl’s room, not a baby’s room, but it sure is unique!  I found this one again on Design Dazzle.

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Black, Red, and White Baby Nursery.  My mom would love this one.  This is her favorite color combination.  Found this one on Cafe Mom.

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When I think of babies, the last color I think about is black.  I guess you really have to be a bit wild to go with black in the nursery, but there is nothing wrong with that! 

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Ahoy Mate Pirate Nursery

Serene Brown and Blue Nursery

Shabby Chic Pink Ballet Nursery

Safari Animal Nursery

Parisian Nursery

So, which one would you choose?  Check out all the entries on Creative Baby Nursery Rooms and let me know which you would choose.  You really have to read the story behind each nursery to see how much work and creativity went into each one.

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Planning and designing a nursery can be one of the most exciting and creative preparatory steps that you can take while waiting for your baby to arrive. After all, the nursery is the where your baby will mostly be in throughout the day, and as much as possible, it should be something that is warm, soothing and inviting.

One way to create a soothing and inviting as well as a visually stimulating nursery is to fill it up with bright colors – and that includes nursery wall murals. Murals give your baby’s nursery a creative and distinct look to it, setting it apart from the other rooms in your house. So, if you want a wonderful place for your baby, then a well painted mural should be part of it.

Choosing A Theme

Of course, you may have already thought about your baby’s nursery’s color scheme or pattern. You may have even thought of the theme for the room. The design of the mural should coincide with the theme. For example, you may have chosen the colors pink and white for your baby’s room. You may also choose to paint a garden full of pastel colored flowers (mostly in shades of pink) for the nursery mural. The mural then gives a colorful break to the otherwise monotonous color, but still keeping in tune with the theme. This is to say that the best murals should stand out in the room, but still should be coordinated with the rooms overall theme.

www.bugs-n-blooms.com

Here are some great ideas for nursery mural themes:

• The Skyline and Clouds. This is perfect if the nursery’s color scheme is blue. The mural can be a painting of a couple of green hills, along with a bright blue sky, a warm yellow sun and some white clouds. For pops of colors, the mural can also have flowers or colorful hot air balloons in the sky.

• Nature. For neutral colored rooms, a subdued mural is also perfect, and that can come in the form of a forest or tree mural. Trees can be painted in soft hues of browns and greens, making it perfect for rooms with toned down colors.

• Garden. Gardens are perfect murals for little girls and go along with yellow, purple, pink or even pink paint. Gardens make the room a very colorful one, and can feature big and small colorful flowers, bright green grass, some trees and even some animals.

• Cartoon Characters. If you choose a cartoon character for a theme, then you may also have the cartoon character included in the nursery mural.

Do Some Research

Do some research on mural inspirations. You may have several friends who have painted nursery murals for the nurseries in their house. You may want to take a look at the murals for inspirations. Of course, the internet is also a source of hundreds of themes and mural inspirations that you can make use of.  My favorite is searching under Google images by keyword.

Professional or DIY Murals

Painting nursery murals takes some time, and some talent as well. If you think you can do the mural yourself, then go ahead and do so. DIY projects add a more personal touch to the room. You can even enlist your partner or some family member and friends to help you out. You may want to choose an easy design to trace and follow.

However, you may also want to hire a professional to do the mural. There are numerous reasons as to why this is so. Maybe you don’t want the squirrel in the mural to end up like looking like a monster that may scare you child eventually as he grows older. Or, you may have a lot of things to do and you don’t want to add something else to your long list of things to do. Hence, you may want to enlist the services of someone who is good at painting.

You can find local artists in your neighborhood or area who will be willing to take on the project for a specific rate. You may even have relatives or friends with artistic talents who will be willing to do the service for free. Discuss the project and the theme with the artist and make sure that you tell him or her all the details necessary so you don’t end up with a mural that you don’t like. If you can find an experienced mural artist, then so much the better. Remember to be clear with what you want and when you want it done.

Remember that there are unlimited options and themes for your baby nursery mural – but you can only choose one. The best mural for someone else may not be the best mural for you and your partner, so take some time to research and eventually decide on the mural. So take time to choose the one that you like best, since you’ll have to commit to it for a long time. When you finally decide, you can now get started with your project, and before you’ll know it, you’ll have a cozy and wonderful room fit for your beautiful little angel!

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I have yet to paint a mural in a hospital, but have always wanted to.  I have seen lots of murals done in hospitals that I have gone to and I especially love to see murals in the pediatric departments or children’s hospitals.  I think a hand painted wall mural in a children’s hospital is so special.

I cannot imagine the struggles that some children go through with numerous illnesses, some even life threatening.  And what better way to take your mind off of the pain than to let your imagination get lost in a beautiful wall mural.

Over the next few posts, I may focus on hospital murals because I really find them so inspiring.  Baby nursery murals are great too, but only a limited amount of people are able to enjoy.  In a hospital, hundreds of people come through on a daily basis.

In this post I am showcasing Under the Sea / Under the Ocean hospital murals.

The first image above was done by Carol Hawkins Studio for the St. David’s Hospital in Austin Texas.  I love the vibrant colors!

This next mural was done by Wayne+Deitz Design Group for a Children’s Medical Center.

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This mural was done for the Woman’s and Children’s Hospital in Louisiana.  I am not sure who it was done by.  I found it on the Woman’s Foundation, Inc. Site.

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This is a mural that was done on canvas by the Nebraska Art Department for the Summerlin Hospital Children’s Ward.  It looks so realistic!

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The next 2 murals are my favorites!  They were also done by the Nebraska Art Deparment for the Summerlin Hospital.

If you are an artist who has painted a children’s hospital mural and would like to showcase your work, please contact me.  I would love to here about what inspired you and how you felt while painting.

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Primarily self-taught, Leigh Watson has been an artist nearly all her life.  She finally embraced her passion and talent as a full time profession in 2004 at the urging of her family, friends and clients who had enjoyed the fruits of her artistic “hobby”.

Today, as the founder and owner of Watson Design, Leigh happily wields her brushes and paints on behalf of a diverse residential and commercial clientele.  She paints everything from nurseries and children’s rooms to daycares, schools and commercial interiors.  Whether it is a detailed mural or simple, decorative painting, Leigh’s art is beautiful and purposeful.  She works closely with clients and their children to fulfill their vision and the potential of the space—often in ways the client may not even have thought possible.

Here are a few questions that I have asked Leigh so you can get to know her a little better:

• How long have you been in business? – 5 years

• What areas do you service? – All of Texas… Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, and additional cities may be arranged

• How did you get started? – My sister wanted a tree painted in her first baby’s nursery in 2001 – I have always been artistic, although at that point I did not have any formal training.  Word of mouth spread and over the next 4 years I ended up painting murals as a hobby for a few neighbors and designers in Dallas.  By 2005, I was living in Austin and was ready to become my own boss.  From the encouragement of friends, family, and clients, I decided to begin the art business that I have today – Watson Design.  It has been the best decision I have ever made!

• What was your most favorite mural that you have ever done? – My favorite mural is probably this underwater mural because,while I can create artwork in any style my client desires, my personal style lends itself towards the realistic look.  I enjoy this mural the most because it has depth and a lot of interest and activity.  Each animal was personally chosen by the young boy whom I was painting for and that always makes my work that much more fun .

• Is there a mural theme that you  have not done yet that you would love to do? - I would absolutely LOVE to do a full scale, full-detail mural of Where the Wild Things Are.  I have created a more simplistic version, working within budget and space constraints – but I would love to be able to really create that entire world inside of the right space.  I have been a huge fan of Maurice Sendak ever since I can remember and am hoping that the release of the new movie might spur some children or daycares to ask for it specifically

• What is your contact info in case anyone would like to reach you for your services? - Leigh Watson, #512-736-3331, leigh@leighwatson.com, www.leighwatson.com

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