How to Commission a Mural for Your Home Murals bridge the gap from imagination to illusion while enhancing the living experience and value of your home. But what exactly is meant by a mural? Most art commentators agree that a mural – whether it is a painting, mosaic, collage, relief or even a photograph – is a work of art that is created for a particular site which then becomes part of the architecture, in other words, a successful mural composition is influenced by its surroundings. No one needs to be told that murals are popular and prestigious; they are everywhere, embellishing the interiors and exteriors of homes, buildings and offices; and the subtle effect produced by this visual presence is comforting, like a friend who doesn't always need us to notice them. The recent revival in mural painting is not, perhaps, surprising, since we live in times where the decor of our homes and work place has become one of the most accessible ways of expressing our individuality, providing an entertaining hint of the scope of our interests, as well as offering an escape from an increasingly uniform environment. Whether your taste in art is eclectic, contemporary, traditional or nouveau; your privately commissioned mural will transcend space and time through imagination and medium. Each Letterfly mural is a unique work of art. Every mural is designed and created specifically for the individual customer; it is never replicated. Whether hand brushed with oils, alkyds, lacquers and acrylics; or airbrushed with the finest quality materials, your special mural is created on canvas so that later, it may be relocated or sold. Every work of art is produced only after extensive input. No matter the method, commissioned murals turn the mundane, magical. You may have an interest in a mural of your own, but how do you begin? The information here has been organized to help you understand the process of commissioning a mural and give you a place to begin. The starting point is your conversation with the artist, allowing him to first become familiar with your ideas, which then allows him to begin to guide you and these ideas toward what will become the perfect expression to complement your home. Consultations with the artist and preliminary sketches that clarify the end result are included with the pricing of each mural. During the interview, the artist will be seeking information about what it is that you want to accomplish. Perhaps you want to complement the style of existing furnishings in the room and heighten opulence with a similar theme, bring the outside in and introduce the flavor of nature's splendor to transform the emotion of the room, or create an illusion of something that is not there to add dimension, personality and mystery. Of course cost may influence the direction taken as you consider a spectacular vista to enhance the interior of your home. When it comes to pricing, there are several dynamics that influence the fee, one being the size, which will influence the amount of materials needed. The main concern that drives the price will be the amount of detail that goes into the project. To help explain this facet of the process, and to give you a few visual examples to assist with understanding how the detail influences the price range you can expect, please see the following explanations and examples.
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
Dave "Letterfly" Knoderer clearly qualifies as an old school/renaissance man. Apprenticing the sign painting trade, he learned design layout formulas and became intimate with letterforms, pinstriping and wet-blended pictorial painting as his skills with the brush developed. With a penchant for adventure, the young artist soon became involved with painting theatrical sets, amusement park and fairground décor, antique fire engine gilding and restoration, along with creating conventional, hand lettered signage and award winning storefront décor.
As sign making began to go the way of the computer three decades ago, letterfly found a niche airbrushing high quality murals on the backs of motor homes. One such project, an eagle flying over a scenic view of the Rocky Mountains was for a Harley-Davidson store owner who soon after, also commissioned murals inside and out at his motorcycle dealership. The episode lead to other similar projects. While in the proximity of bikers it became impossible for Dave to avoid the relentless requests for delicate pinline designs that personalize, individualize and distinguish their bike from the rest.
Perhaps the most amazing feature of this artist is the uncanny ability to visualize, develop and create images that have never been done before, along with the wide variety of styles of pinline designs, his oneness with eagles, wolves, horses, feathers, flames and countless other icons that make up the mainstay of his work.
During the winter months, extensive paint jobs on an endless variety of interesting things takes place at his home/studio/paint shop called ArtPark, in Florida. When it’s cold up north, motorcycle enthusiasts dismantle their bikes and ship the pieces to Letterfly for intricate design work, over all custom repaints and spectacular paint jobs that showcase his vast repertoire. When RVers head to Florida during the winter, they visit ArtPark to get a custom designed airbrushed mural on the back of their motor home, a portrait of their pet on the entry door, some graphic shapes on their tow-car that resemble the design on the coach, a monogram, special inscription or any number of one-of-a-kind images that the artist conjures up just for them. Lush garden pathways connect the shop, studio, RV parking and gallery situated in a quiet oak hammock that is a haven for creativity and a destination for RVers and bikers alike.
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