Cara Search | Murals in New York City

LET'S MAKE A MURAL!

Murals are magical. They add color and character to any space, turning buildings into destinations. Murals show the world what you are about and invite the neighborhood in. Inside, they inspire awe, add beauty, and help people feel connected to your space. Not to mention the irresistible photo-ops they create.

I absolutely love painting a huge, expressive mural that brightens a space. I have had the pleasure of painting both interior walls and exterior facades. For the mural-curious, here are some questions that I get asked most frequently.

To commission a mural or ask another question, you can reach me at search.cara@gmail.com or on Instagram at @cara.search.

WHAT DOES A MURAL COST?

My mural rate starts at $45/square foot for interiors and $55/square foot for exteriors, with a $1,000 project minimum. This rate includes all design and painting labor, tools, and materials. Factors that increase this rate include design complexity, surface quality (for example, uneven masonry will cost more than flat drywall), condensed timeline, special material requests, such as anti-graffiti coating or other challenging environmental/project conditions.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PAINT A MURAL?

I normally estimate 30 min-1 hour of painting per square foot. Another quick estimate is one week of painting per 30-35 square feet. Before painting, the design process can take 2-3 weeks depending on how many rounds of edits there are.

WHAT KIND OF MATERIALS DO YOU USE?

For an interior mural, I use matte or eggshell interior wall paint and for an exterior mural, I use flat or matte exterior house paint and a low-luster sealant that can be washed with soap and water and resealed as needed. Additional sealants are available for exterior murals, such as anti-graffiti coating.

WHAT DOES THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

BRAINSTORM & MEASUREMENT

We meet and I ask you all about what you want your mural to look like. You let me know any motifs, colors, brand imagery, etc. that should be in the mural. Then, I visit your space to measure the mural surface and check out the surface quality. This allows me to create a scaled digital model of the surface that I will use for design.

CONTRACT & DEPOSIT

I draft a quote/contract with an estimated per square foot rate multiplied by the square footage of your space. I also draft a timeline for the project based on your needs and space availability. I request a 50% deposit to be received before painting begins.

DESIGN

In this phase, I create black and white sketches, color roughs, and finally, a fully rendered design on the scaled model of your surface. At each stage, you offer feedback to guide the mural in the right direction. At the end of this phase, we have a digital rendering of the exact artwork that will go onto the surface.

PAINTING

The most exciting part! I come to your space 4 days/week to paint the mural. I bring all materials and request only the use of ladders, as needed.

WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE IT?

Before paint touches the wall, you will have seen and approved the exact design mocked up on a scaled model of your wall. I even use colors directly from the Behr or Sherwin Williams websites to ensure color matching. But if something is really not working for you, paint is easy to paint over and change on-site.

WHERE WILL YOU PAINT A MURAL?

I will paint a mural anywhere accessible by the NYC MTA. If you would like a mural outside of this area, please get in touch with me to discuss travel options.

HOW DO I COMMISSION A MURAL?

Just get in touch with me! You can reach me at search.cara@gmail.com or on Instagram at @cara.search. You can tell me about your space and I will share my availability and next steps. Can't wait to hear from you!