Storybook Walls: Pre-K Library's New Mural
I’m thrilled to share the completion of my latest project: a colorful hand-painted mural for Dublin, Ohio’s Pre-K school library! This incredible school supports children with special needs and families where English is a second language - a mission close to my heart. Both of my kids attended here as peers, learning so much from the diverse community and dedicated teachers.
The mural project was extra special because the new library space used to be my kids’ old classroom. Seeing them return to the room (now transformed with bright, joyful art) was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget.
The school recently expanded, and the staff wanted to add something special to the new library. That’s where I came in! My goal was to design a playful wall mural that sparks imagination, welcomes every child, and celebrates the joy of learning.
Process - Getting Started
Many people are curious about the process of creating a mural, and it’s not a surprise because it does seem a little bit like magic when you see before-and-after photos…which I’ve included at the end of this article!
For me, the process always starts by meeting with the client. I take the following steps to kick things off:
Measure and walk through the space
Discuss how the room will be used and other design needs
Define the constraints we’re working within: timing, furniture in the space, etc.
Understanding any ideas/themes they might have for the art direction
After this, I draw the room to scale in Illustrator and create a detailed sketch. The above image shows this flattened version of the space. This lets both the client and me visualize the full mural design without the restrictions of perspective or furniture. With this sketch, I included a materials list detailing the items needed to complete the mural, the number of paint colors, and the total cost.
Once everything is approved, I gather materials in the space and painting begins!
Process - Transfer and Painting
Each mural has to be approached a little differently depending on the space and design. In this case, the room was large enough that I could use a projector to transfer the art onto the wall. After painting the background color, I set up the projector and sketched the main shapes.
For the castle portion, I used a level to ensure horizontal and vertical lines were properly aligned. The projector is a very useful tool, but it’s not a perfect translation - you often need to adjust while transferring to keep proportions accurate.
After blocking in the main colors (see the first two images above), I added striping, animals, and other details. Many of these elements were hand-drawn directly on the wall or sketched using print-out templates I created at home. This way, I wasn’t constantly trying to re-align the projector.
Process - Final Details
People are often surprised to hear that my murals are completely hand-painted. I’m a detail-oriented painter and often go back with a fine brush to refine edges and ensure everything looks crisp. I also keep my workspace neat and tidy between sessions so the space can still be used by others.
After finishing the mural, I vacuumed, cleaned the area, and moved furniture back into position. When the teachers arrived, it was such a fun surprise for them to discover!
”This space is bringing us so much joy!” Heather - Building Administrative Secretary
”I’m so happy our students get to enjoy this space.” Vanessa - Principal
To see all the photos of this mural, check out the project page!
To see my other murals, go to the Branding/Mural section of my website!