Mural FAQs

We love painting and answering questions about murals!
For those of you who prefer to read all about it, here you go!

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Where do I start?

First, find a mural artist who paints in the STYLE you want! 

How does this work?

If you like our style:

1. Contact us to check out your building and let us know if you have something in mind.
2. Based on the size and wall material, we will email a price proposal to you.
3. If you'd like to move forward, we will email an agreement.
4. Then you can sign and return the agreement and 1/3 down to get on our schedule and for us to start designing.
5. We will email you a rendering of what it will look like.
6. If you'd like, we can make changes to the design before it's on the wall.
7. Then we draw the lines on the wall and start painting, and you pay another 1/3 of the fee.
8. We promote your business on Facebook and Instagram as we paint your mural!
9. When we're finished, we make sure you love it, and you pay the final 1/3. 

How much do murals cost?

For outdoor murals, we charge:

• $14-16+ per square foot, depending on the surface
• Minimum: $2,700

For indoor murals, we charge:

• $10 - $30+ per square foot, depending on the surface and complexity
• Minimum: $1,800

What does the cost include?

The cost includes:

• Mural design
• Electronic rendering of the mural for your approval and adjustment if needed
• Using our own scaffolding and/or ladders, up to 16 feet high
• Priming the wall, if needed
• Paint and supplies
• ​Complete painted mural

What does the cost NOT include?

The cost does NOT include:

• Any repairs needed to the wall
• Removal of anti-graffiti coating
• Addition of a coating, unless it's requested to be included in the cost
• Scaffolding or lift rental if we need to paint over 16 feet high
• Travel expenses if outside of Enid, but we can estimate those costs for the proposal

Can I get help paying for it?

There are funds that might help pay for your outdoor mural in Enid!

• If you apply for funds from the Public Arts Commission of Enid, they might provide 40% of the cost. (You would apply for 50%, you’d likely receive 80% of that 50%.) The application would go through PACE, then the City Commissioners. See the info and application.
• If you are a non-profit organization, you can apply for a grant from Park Avenue Thrift during their spring and fall grant openings!
• ​If you are a non-profit organization, you may also apply for funds from the Enid Arts Council. See the info and application.
• If your building is located downtown Enid, within the Main Street Enid boundaries, you could request some mural fund assistance from them as well. Contact Main Street Enid.

Who designs it?

We design our murals! You let us know what you have in mind and we take it from there, providing a rendering for your approval. 

Are there things you WON'T paint?

We won't paint anything we think is offensive, divisive, or discriminatory. After being the Director of a preservation-based downtown revitalization program, we don't paint UNpainted brick. It's best for brick to be left unpainted. We also won't paint something if it will decrease its historical integrity.

How long will it take to paint?

This depends a lot on the weather. We brush on the paint, which is slower than spray painters. We usually paint a mural for 2-3 weeks, avoiding times when the sun shines on the wall, unless we're on a tight deadline or if it's south-facing and we can't avoid the sun.

Do you paint in all weather?

It's best for the paint (and also for us) to paint when it's:

• over 50 degrees
• under 100 degrees
• under 20 mph winds
• not too humid for the paint to dry
• not going to rain within a couple hours of painting

Who owns the mural?

You would own the mural, just like if you bought a painting. (We retain the copyright.) If the mural was partially paid for with pubic funds, then it is also owned by the community. 

Who owns the copyright?

We retain ownership of the copyright of the art.

Can I sell things with the mural image on them?

We can provide a license to sell the design on items. There could be a fee or percentage of sales. We can work together on that.

Can anyone take pictures in front of the mural without copyright violation?

YES, please! We allow and welcome any photos, personal or commercial, to be taken with the mural! It provides natural promotion for your business and for the community! You just can't sell items (t-shirts, socks, etc.) without permission. Commercial photos aren't always allowed in front of other artists' murals, so please contact the artist to ask if the mural isn't one of ours.

How long will the mural last?

We don't guarantee how long the mural will last, but we expect approximately 10 years. Some fading might show around 5 years, especially if south-facing due to extra sunlight. A north-facing mural might last longer than others.

What about maintenance?

Contact us (or whoever the artist is) if repairs or freshening up is needed and we will provide a cost. Our agreement includes a VARA Waiver in case your mural needs repairs and we aren't available, then you can hire another artist to make repairs.

What do we do when the mural shows its age?

You can do any of these:

• Hire us to repaint it, or just repaint faded colors if needed
• Let it age and become a "ghost" mural
  
• If the mural has remained at least the minimum amount of time specified in the agreement, you can...
  • Hire any artist to paint a new mural over it 
  • Paint a solid color over it

Do you seal the finished murals?

We don't, but we could upon request. We use exterior house paint, so sealing it is not necessary, as you wouldn't need to seal your house over house paint. Coatings can yellow, which could alter the appearance of the colors. If yours needs a special coating, we can work with you on doing that for an additional fee.

What about vandalism or graffiti?

There are anti-graffiti coatings. We haven't applied one yet, but we could add it to the proposal. There is a chance of yellowing over time. Graffiti remover is also available, if the graffiti is caught quickly. If part of your mural needs to be repainted, contact us and we will let you know the cost. Our graphic style makes repainting sections fairly easy.

How do I get on your schedule?

We schedule approx. one mural per month, unless we can fit more in. This allows for weather and other unforeseen delays. We will put you on our schedule after the agreement is signed and the first 1/3 is paid.