What is the title of the career/position? (Be specific! ie. there are MANY types of jobs within a museum. Don't just say "Work in a museum." There are curators, registrars, art handlers, conservators, marketing, and many more.)
A muralist :)) - so a fine art painter.
Describe the responsibilities of the job and required credentials to achieve the position.
You have to have a good sense of scale, because you are working so large, you have to consider what it will look like from all angles- canvases are usually hung at eye level so it isn't normally a problem you have to consider. You have to be mindful of the impact of the weather and sun on you painting and choose the paint, color and prep the surface accordingly. You would also have to figure out how to work on top of or around, other objects, fixtures, etc. You also have to take into account that you might have to work on something for months and will have to plan according to the weather which could be frustrating. You also need to be able to take what the client asks for and make it a reality- so knowing how to translate words and ideas into an actual painting. You also have to take care not to disrupt sidewalks or other public spaces.
What college majors provide the training for this career?
Many muralists go to school and get a bachelors or associates degree in Fine Arts so they can hone their artistic skills and improve technical ability, as well as stay on top of the best materials, media, and trends. Creating a professional portfolio in art school would also benefit you on the business side of things because you would have a wide body of work that clients could look at, which would be good for marketing and branding purposes.
What schools offer good programs in this area? Are there any recognized top programs?
There are not many specific programs in this area, most would be benefitted by taking a class specifically on painting. I did see that Santa Ana College offered a mural painting class though.
Average income from this career path.
The average annual income of a muralist in Virginia is $41, 873. However, many independent muralist's income varies greatly as some might not charge a lot if they are just building a reputation, while a well known or respected muralist could charge a lot more. You are not going to start off making a decent amount of money- it is something you will have to work for which is important to consider.
What about this career interests you?
I would be able to make creative paintings on a large scale in a different environment- a city building, a house, a business and I would be able to work for myself and be pretty independent in terms of being able to do what I want. I also love seeing all the murals in Richmond and that definitely inspired me to look into this career.
Did anything you find out about the career surprise you or change your thoughts about it?
I was really surprised to find out that some artists use oil paints. I did not think they would be able to do that given the settings for some murals. I imagine it would present a lot of problems because of how long an oil painting of that scale would take to dry. Also I decided that I would not want to be a full time or major muralist. They have to worry about so many technicalities like how their painting will weather, the weather while their painting, clients' visions, technical skills, public spaces etc. etc. It is not as glamorous as I thought and I would never be able to work on a painting for MONTHS.
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