Behind the Scenes of My First Large Mural Project in Rosemary Beach, Florida
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Creating a mural directly on a wall is a unique challenge for any artist. Recently, I had the opportunity to paint my first large mural, measuring 8 feet wide by 9 feet tall, in the charming town of Rosemary Beach, Florida. This project marked a significant milestone in my artistic journey, and I want to share the process, challenges, and memorable moments from this experience! With the help of my sister, Renee Koehn, an artist and designer, the project came to life in ways I couldn't expect! It is always a joy for me to take a project from concept to completion, and this project can now be enjoyed by the homeowners and vacation-goers that rent this beach house!
First, any project starts with concept sketches, in this case a small painted version
Choosing the Location and Design
Rosemary Beach offers a beautiful backdrop for any artwork! For the last few years, I have enjoyed painting on the beach and in town at the invitation of my friends from The Hidden Lantern bookstore. At their invitation last fall to paint during the Uncorked Wine Festival, I had the privilege of meeting the homeowners for this mural project! The mural was a dream they had in mind for a while, and I was thrilled they chose me to make this project a reality. Two design options were explored for this project, with the wave scene ultimately selected for the wall. I really wanted to create the effect that you could just keep walking into the room and continue walking along the beach, and I think we achieved that! After weeks of careful planning and testing materials, I loved being on location and bringing this project to life.
Preparing the Wall and Materials
Before painting, the wall required thorough preparation including wall cleaning and priming. Multiple ladders and stools were required to reach the top, and occasionally a brush taped onto a broom handle! (Shhhh, that's top secret!).
Choosing the right materials was another important decision. We used high-quality exterior mural paints designed to withstand harsh conditions, and suitable for indoor or outdoor applications. Brushes and paint rollers of various sizes allowed for both broad strokes and fine details.
Painting Process and Collaboration
Painting directly on a wall is physically demanding. I spent hours standing, reaching, and stepping back to evaluate the work from different angles. The scale of a project like this is so different from a studio approach. You constantly have to be standing back after working so close up to make sure that your perspective and scale is correct. Thankfully, my sister Renee Koehn was with me to assist in important design decisions, color mixing and encouragement! While high up on a ladder and too close at times to see what the wall needed, her direction and feedback made the project a huge success.
Oh and thankfully she also would hand me brushes and paint so that I didn't have to go up and down the ladder after just a few strokes!
Overcoming Challenges
Renee’s assistance was invaluable. Her background in design brought fresh ideas that enhanced the mural’s composition. We've worked together for years, and easily anticipate our next steps and what a project requires. We worked in stages, starting with broad shapes and gradually adding layers of detail.
With this type of mural paint drying quickly after application, layers and layers of detail could be easily added throughout the day. In total this project was completed over 12 days, which for me, is a record! I typically spend weeks on a painting in my studio. The weeks of preparation painting and designing this mural in my studio definitely helped the final painting process on site go smoothly, and helped us meet our 12 day deadline.
Final Touches and Reflection
The final stage involved refining passages and color transitions in the waves, adding highlights (the foam is my favorite!), and sealing the mural with a protective coating. This coating helps preserve the artwork against any damage, scuffing and moisture.
Seeing the finished mural was incredibly rewarding. It transformed the plain wall into a vibrant piece of art that adds character and beauty to the home! The experience was definitely a highlight of my year, and has me hoping and planning for more murals in the future! Be sure to check out the upcoming June article in the Rosemary Thymes for more details and insights about the project. See you soon Rosemary!
Finished Mural, Rosemary Beach 2026