Community paint days allow more people to participate in the mural process. After you choose your ideal painting days, have some back-up dates called “rain days” in case the weather doesn’t allow for painting. Depending on the size of the mural, you might need more than one paint day.
You can also do a mural drawing day or evening. Depending on how the design is placed on the wall, if the design is to be projected at night – you can also have an evening for the drawing. Generally this will take a couple hours and is ideal for students in grade 3 and up to help.
The mural group members in charge of the paint day can help make the day go smoothly by providing the following:
- Tent for cover from the sun
- Folding chairs to put under and around the tent
- Folding tables for snacks and water
- Folding tables to place the paints and brushes
- Lots of printouts of the design with the correct colors for reference
- Lots of brushes of differing sizes
- Paints
- Containers with lids to put paint in them in smaller amounts (not recommended to paint directly from paint can as spilling happens frequently)
- Two people (more is better) to help community members get the paint and brushes they need and then also to wash out brushes
- Buckets for washing out brushes
- Water for washing out brushes (if there is no water hose nearby, be prepared to bring extra buckets)
- Snacks
- Water
- Ice and Cooler for water
- ladders and/or scaffolding (don’t allow children to climb the ladders or scaffolding to avoid injury)
What community members should wear/bring:
- Wear old clothes (you don’t mind getting paint on) and/or Painting aprons
- Rubber or latex gloves if you want to keep your hands clean
- Hat (one that protects your neck and face is best)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water to drink
- Snacks
- Something to kneel and sit on such as cardboard, towel, or garden kneeling pad