An Introduction to Decorative Painting

A foliage ceiling mural - Part 4 - Painting the mural

with TESS NEWALL — Hand-painted details bring warmth, soul, and story into a space. They make a home feel alive.

Lesson 32 of 32

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In the final lesson, you will join Tess on site as works on her mural in the eaves of a timber frame barn. Observe her process, and paint along with her on your own project.

From the Lesson Workbook

A Foliage Ceiling Mural - Part 4 - Painting the Mural

Join me on-site as I work on my mural in the eaves of a timber frame barn. Observe my process, and paint along with me on your own project if you like!

Tips for Painting a Mural

  • Take the pressure off by focusing on the atmosphere you are creating, rather than aiming for perfection in every motif.
  • Remember that your mural will almost always be appreciated from a distance, which can be easy to forget when you're working on it up close. Stand back at regular intervals to assess your progress and to be reminded of the relative unimportance of minor imperfections.
  • Part of the magic of murals is the ideas that come to you organically as you're painting. Have your mock-up and practice panel to hand, but also don't feel too tied to it.
  • As with previous projects, I would recommend drawing your design onto the wall using an Aquarelle pencil - this means you're always able to wipe it off and start again if you're not completely happy with it.

You Will Need:

  • A wall
  • Chalk pencil or watercolour pencils (I use Aquarelle)
  • A selection of the smaller paintbrushes
  • Emulsion paint in a colours of your choice
  • Paint palette
  • 3 x water jars filled with water
  • Damp cloth

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Tess  Newall

Your Instructor

Tess Newall

Hand-painted details bring warmth, soul, and story into a space. They make a home feel alive.

Tess Newall is a decorative artist based in Sussex, specialising in hand-painted bespoke murals and furniture. Following a decade of experience as a set designer and painter in the film industry, Tess has mastered how to bring a creative vision to life. She often draws on historic patterns and aims to capture an artisanal feel, where textures and brushstrokes add to the atmosphere of a room or to the character of a furniture piece. Tess and her studio team work with interior designers and private clients on bespoke commissions for both commercial and residential projects, as well as collaborating on homewares collections with brands including Liberty and Matilda Goad.

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