Step-by-step guide
1Start your mural by measuring and marking the straight lines on the wall. Measure down from the ceiling to get them as straight as you can, or use a level or laser. Mark the lines with a pencil.
2When you’re satisfied with your first line, run washi or low-tack tape along it. To achieve a really clean, straight line, make sure your surface is nice and dry, press down hard and check that there are no gaps or bubbles.
3From your first line of tape, use a ruler to measure and mark the bottom line of your mural. When you’re sure it’s straight, mark this line with tape.
4Repeat this process for the other stripes.
5To the right-hand side of the mural, you’ll have two curves. To achieve a perfect curve, attach a piece of string to the wall with a pin roughly where the middle of your curve will be, then wrap the string around a pencil (keeping tension on the end). Start sweeping your string and pencil around the pin to form a curve. You may have to play around with the pin position and the length of your string. Once you’ve got your first curve marked out, simply adjust the position of the pencil within the string and repeat the process to form an outer or inner curve.
6Before painting the mural, first paint along the tape edge with the background colour (I used Resene Double Foundry). This helps to seal the tape and will give a cleaner line.
7
Use a mini roller to paint the first stripe of colour of the mural.
8
When it comes to painting the curve, switch to a paint brush and do it freehand. A good curve requires a reasonably thick brush, I used a 50mm. Have the brush well dampened with paint, but not dripping, then apply it to the wall with reasonable momentum.
The slower you go, the harder it will be to keep a perfect arch.
9
Allow to dry, then repeat this process for every second stripe.
10
Peel the tape off when the paint isn’t completely dry so it doesn’t flake everywhere. Allow the paint to dry completely.
11
When the paint is dry, tape over the painted stripes to allow you to paint the alternate lines.
12
Repeat this process with all the stripes in the mural until it is complete.