The Conservatory NW

Recently a friend asked me, “What’s the difference between a mural and a really big painting?” And I thought, I don’t know. Is it a mural if it’s painted directly onto a wall? Is everything painted onto a wall a mural?

It was time to do some digging…
To start with the word mural comes from the Latin word murus meaning wall. After some more research I conclude that intent, integration and scale determine if a painting is a mural.

Intent always plays a huge role in categorizing anything in the art world. Murals tend to be public-facing artworks created with the intention of interacting with or enhancing the space. They often tell a story, depict scenes, or communicate a theme.

A mural is meant to be part of the wall or environment, becoming integrated with the architectural space.

Murals are generally large and cover significant portions of a wall or ceiling, often using the entire surface as a canvas.

So a mural is a large-scale piece of art integrated with its environment painted with intention.

However in my experience murals can also be painted off-site onto panels or mural cloth and then installed at this final destination! And not everything painted on a wall is a mural. For example: Graffiti tags, simple decorative designs and patterns, signs with instructions or diagrams for functional purposes.

I still don’t have a perfect definition for a mural, but I know one when I see one. And I know that I love painting murals and leading schools or community groups to create amazing murals.

Join me for a virtual mural painting workshop Jan. 11, 2025. DM me for more details.

Art for All & All for Art!

⭐️ Figure Drawing Tonight Oct 10th 6:30 - 9:00pm

Drawing from a life model gets me into an artistic flow-state faster than anything else. All my other stress and obligations fade away and I feel completely present and relaxed. Sharing those moments with a group of artists is so good for me. It doesn’t even matter what the art looks like. I invite you to join us!

⭐️ Non-nude models. Teen artists are welcome to join.
⭐️ Work from life-models in a friendly, judgement-free environment!
⭐️ Sliding Scale $15 - $30

The Conservatory NW
4419 Rainier Ave S., Columbia City, Seattle
www.theconservatorynw.com