How a Mural Commission Works — From First Email to Finished Wall
Table of contents
A wall mural isn't something people commission every year. Most do it for the first time and have no idea how the process works: how many meetings, when to pay, what happens if they don't like the result.
Below is the whole path from first message to sign-off. No surprises.
Stage 1. First Enquiry
What you do: write to me and send a photo of the wall, approximate dimensions, an idea or references. Even with no idea — describe in words what you want: "make the room feel larger," "bring the blank wall in the hall to life," "something calm for the bedroom."
What I do: look at the material, ask clarifying questions (type of room, lighting, what stands against the wall, whether there's damp), and give a preliminary price and time range.
How long it takes: I reply within a day. The range I can give straight from the photo.
What it costs: nothing. The initial assessment is free and commits you to nothing.
Stage 2. Site Measurement
Not always needed — for smaller interior work, photos and your measurements often suffice.
When it's essential: façades, large areas, complex room geometry, doubts about the wall's condition.
What happens: I come, measure the real area, examine the surface (render, plasterboard, concrete, cracks and delamination), assess lighting and access, and we discuss the idea on the spot.
What I need from you: access to the space and half an hour to an hour of your time.
What it costs: free within the city, beyond that by arrangement.
Stage 3. The Sketch
The most important stage. This is where what goes on the wall is decided.
What I do: I prepare a digital mock-up — your wall with the composition overlaid, in real proportions. You see not an abstract picture but exactly how your space will look.
What you do: look, and say what you like and don't. Revisions at this stage are free and, within reason, unlimited: shift the composition, change colours, remove or add an element — all easy while it's still a file rather than paint on a wall.
How long it takes: 3–5 days for the first version, plus time for revisions. Usually 2–3 rounds are enough.
What it costs: included in the deposit. If after the sketch you decide not to proceed — the deposit covering the sketch isn't returned, but you owe nothing further.
Why this is critical: oil and acrylic painting on a wall is hard to correct. Changing the composition once half the wall is painted means starting over. So I don't touch the paint until the sketch fully satisfies you.
Stage 4. Contract and Deposit
What we agree: the final sketch, the exact area, the sum, start and finish dates, who prepares the wall, what's included (materials, varnish, cleaning up), terms if dates shift.
Deposit: 30–50% of the sum. It covers materials, preparation and the start of work. The balance — once you've accepted the finished work.
For companies: contract, invoice, sign-off document. Check in advance what paperwork your accounts department needs.
Stage 5. Wall Preparation
What I need from you: clear access to the wall for at least a metre, move or cover furniture (I bring sheeting and masking tape, but large pieces are best moved beforehand), provide water and power.
What I do: cover the floor and everything nearby, check the surface is sound, prime if needed.
If the wall needs repair: I say so at the measuring stage. Filling, levelling, removing old coatings is work for builders, not the artist. I can recommend people or wait while you sort it out yourself.
How long it takes: from a few hours to a day.
Stage 6. The Painting
How the work goes:
Setting out. I transfer the composition onto the wall — by grid or projection. It's the skeleton everything else is built on.
Underpainting. The main masses, large colour zones. At this stage the work looks rough — don't be alarmed, that's how it should be.
Main layers. Volume emerges, light and shadow, background detail.
Detailing. Fine painting, accents, final touches. This is where the work comes alive.
What I need from you: access at the agreed hours. Being present isn't necessary — many clients leave keys and drop in a couple of times to look.
Progress updates: I send photos daily or every other day. You see the progress and can say something while it can still be adjusted.
How long it takes: 15–20 m² at moderate complexity is a week to a week and a half of actual work. The exact timeline goes in the contract.
Stage 7. Sign-off and Varnish
Sign-off: I show you the finished work before applying varnish. This is the last moment when details can be adjusted — after varnishing, changes are harder.
What to look at: correspondence with the sketch, quality of the finish, no gaps or runs, how the composition reads from different points in the room.
Varnish: after your "yes" I apply the protective coat. Matt — it doesn't glare, doesn't emphasise unevenness, and allows the surface to be cleaned.
Drying: 2–3 days to full cure. During that time it's best not to touch the wall and to ventilate the room well.
Clearing up: I clear everything away — sheeting, tape, materials. You get a clean room back.
Stage 8. After Handover
Final payment — after acceptance of the work.
What I leave behind: care instructions (what it can be cleaned with, what to avoid) and, if useful, a little paint in the main colours for minor damage.
Guarantee: on the painting and coating under normal use. If something lifts after a year through no fault of yours — I fix it.
Restoration: small damage (a scratch from furniture, a chip) takes a couple of hours to repair. It's chargeable, but inexpensive.
How Long It All Takes
A realistic calendar for a 20 m² interior mural:
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Enquiry and initial assessment | 1 day |
| Measurement (if needed) | 1–3 days to agree a date |
| Sketch with revisions | 5–10 days |
| Contract and preparation | 2–3 days |
| Painting | 7–10 days |
| Varnish and drying | 3 days |
| Total | 3–5 weeks |
For a façade, add weather dependency. For an office or venue — time for internal approvals and out-of-hours working.
FAQ — Questions About the Process
What if I don't like the result?
That's exactly why the sketch stage exists: you see the future work in advance and approve it. A departure from the approved sketch is my responsibility and I correct it at my own cost. Changing your mind after approval means additional work, which we discuss separately.
Can something be changed during the work?
Small things — yes, we discuss them at the progress updates. Changing the concept mid-way is effectively a new commission, because you can't repaint over wet work: you have to wait for it to dry and cover over.
Do I need to be there?
No. Access is enough. Many clients leave keys and see the result at the end — but I send photos regularly so there are no surprises.
Does the room smell?
Water-based acrylic paints — the smell is faint and gone within a day. Varnish smells a little stronger, but also briefly. You can stay in the home during the work; sleeping in the room being painted is best avoided for the first couple of days after varnishing.
How many meetings are there in total?
Usually two: measuring and sign-off. Everything else is correspondence, photos and files. If you're in another city it can be done with no in-person meetings at all — but for larger works the measurement is best not skipped.
How to Start
The first step takes five minutes: photograph the whole wall, take rough measurements and write to me. Tell me about the room and what you'd like — even if it's still vague.
I'll reply with an assessment and a suggestion of what can be done. After that it's your decision.
Would you like to discuss a mural? Write to me — send a photo of the wall and the dimensions. I'll reply with an idea, a price and a timeline. The assessment is free.