1. Keep going, keep creating
I get it, it’s overwhelming and challenging to apply for mural jobs. Don’t be discouraged my friends, I have also been rejected many times over the past few years. I know that it’s a hard reality to accept, however in the mural world, you can’t take these NOs too seriously. Sometimes it's just hit or miss, depending solely on the jury at the time. It's nothing personal. And you have to just keep going, keep creating. The world needs your art.
2. SHOWCASE YOUR BEST ART SKILLS
For the smaller mural projects, like the Outside the Box Murals Project by StART Toronto, no public art experience is necessary. They will ask for previous work so just make sure you have some of your best artwork to show. Keep an eye out for calls that use the word “emerging” so you know they mean artists that are new to the public art world. Don’t waste your time applying for BIG mural jobs. Naturally you need the experience to be considered here. See point 10 to build your mural experience.
“Historical Homes” My FIRST utility box and piece of public art! Painted in July 2019 with StART. Learn more about this project here.
3. THINK ABOUT YOUR COLOUR PALETTE
I’ve noticed that public murals are often vibrant, positive and full of life. Think about the colour palettes you gravitate towards and then think about them in a different context. Outside, in the city, with houses and buildings and traffic lights and people and the TTC etc. What would stand out in and amongst our concrete jungle? What would you want to see as an inspiring pop of art?
“Tower of Glass” My utility box mural from 2020. I feel like the Toronto themed design really helped my application stand out and eventually be selected. Learn more here.
4. THINK LIKE A DESIGNER
Don’t just slap some of your art together, think about the space as a unique canvas. Murals are different than paintings and can have multiple sides and angles. I’ve noticed that designs that fill up the space of a wall or box etc. are considered to be more successful in order to avoid future vandalism. Someone might not want to tag a piece of art, but if there’s a lot of open areas they might take advantage of this. Sometimes a maximalist art style works better in the public world.
5. Don’t get lost on the details
People will be looking at your public art piece for a brief moment in time and so you don’t need to make every line perfect, let alone spend a million hours painting. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way. See utility box mural above.
6. Think about scale
Similar to the point above. However this is more in relation to your design and the fact that your elements should be scaled up appropriately because of the world it will be living in. You want to make an impact from a distance and up close so think about your design from those two different viewpoints. I know that can be confusing, see point 7.
“Dancing in the Moonlight” My most recent utility box from the summer of 2022.
7. Mural research & the public
Check out some of the public murals in your city, small and large scale. It’s important to see them in person for the full context. Which ones appeal to you? Think about what the public enjoys about these pieces. Usually safe, family friendly designs are popular. Check out the designs that have been selected from different mural calls. A lot of arts organizations post about their completed projects so you can see them online. Now think about your own work and/or proposals and how you can learn from this insight.
8. COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION
Ask experienced artists questions. Reach out and you’ll find that most of the time they are more than willing to help the next generation of artists. Like myself, they probably also received help when they were first starting out. I strongly believe that we all will get farther if we help each other out. Community over competition, always.
9. DEEPER THINKING
Go into a dark room, close the door, close your eyes and just think. Think hard about yourself and your art and your unique style. What can you bring to the world? How can your art stand out? What ideas, themes, concepts inspire you? Get deep. This kind of big picture thinking will help fuel your fire and create the art you were meant to create.
“Monet meets Mucha” My FIRST real mural on my own porch for fun. In August 2016, I convinced my landlord to paint this house divider for free. But I wouldn’t paint murals for real until late 2018. Learn more about this project here.
10. GET YOURSELF A WALL!
In order to make your application stronger, I would suggest painting a mural somewhere, anywhere to show you can paint at a larger scale. Convince a neighbour to paint their garage, talk to your landlord about an interior wall (murals can always be painted over), buy and paint a large wooden panel, talk to your local coffee shop whatever. If you have absolutely zero experience, consider doing it for free (within reason) or barter. This will help your negotiation.
Good luck!
You got this.
In case you’re looking for more information and specifics, check out this blog article: How to get started in public art and paint your first mural in Toronto.
