Unfading a Mural

The primary colors of red, blue, and yellow plus white are how I mix colors to paint murals. The paints are supposed to be highly pigmented and lightfast, but yellow ALWAYS fades first. Since green is made from blue and yellow, greens turn to grayish blues.

Two years ago I repainted the big Mineral King mural in Exeter because of this problem. When I ordered paints for the job, the paint company said of my yellow choice, “We no longer recommend that yellow for outdoor use.” Well, that certainly explains a lot. So now I am refreshing murals a little at a time, as I am able.

This mural was looking very tired to me. The owners weren’t unhappy with it, but it was hurting my eyes and my pride.

See how faded the greens are? The mural looks sort of okay, because the values (the darks and lights) are intact.
After pouring out the greens, I looked down and saw the green leaf from a Live Oak tree that matched almost perfectly. (That’s what color junkies do.)
The distant mountains, trees and basic landscape stuff can be left in their bluish state because that helps them appear farther away. (I started on some of the trees – that is why they are brighter green.)

Here is a good example of Before and After of the same area.

Tomorrow I’ll show you more of the repainting session. Meanwhile, I have to go scrape dried paint off my knuckles.

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2 Comments

  1. Wow! Those new trees really pop! Good example of what you have to watch for.

    • Nikki, thanks for the affirmation. . . now I am questioning the water, the shrubs overhanging the water, the middle-ground shapes and textures and colors. . . PUT DOWN YOUR BRUSHES AND BACK AWAY FROM THE WALL!

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