Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
AMAZING MURALS™ BUSINESS
STAR MURALS COMPLETE
TRAINING GUIDE
Clear & Simple™
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
2
Table of Contents
Section Page
1 Welcome 4
2 Supplies & Tools 5
2.1 Start-up Kit Items Included 5 2.2 Supplies 5
2.3 Tools 6
3 Paint Mixing 7
3.1 Ingredients 7 3.2 Star Mural Paint 8
3.3 Star Mural Effects Paint 8 3.4 Beginner Instructions 9
3.5 Storage 12
4 Lighting & Murals 13
4.1 Lighting Sources 13 4.2 Background Information 13
4.3 Charging Time 14
5 Mural Techniques 15
5.1 Star Fields 16 5.2 3D Stars 24
5.3 Bright Stars 27 5.4 Shooting Stars & Comets 28 5.5 Moons & Planets 33
5.6 Black Holes 39 5.7 Constellations 43 5.8 Nebula & Gas Clouds 51
5.9 Galaxies 62 5.10 Personalization 66
6 Complete Murals 70
6.1 Combining Techniques 70
6.2 Technique Sequence 70 6.3 Sky Windows 71
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
3
7 Practice 72
7.1 Individual Techniques 72 7.2 Combinations 73
8 Do It 74
8.1 Room Preparation 74
8.2 Paint Murals 76
9 Portfolio 77
9.1 Create a Professional Portfolio 77 9.2 Create a Client Portfolio 79
10 Packages 80
10.1 Amazing Backyard Stars 80 10.2 Amazing Backyard Stars & Constellations 80 10.3 Amazing Deep Space Fantasy 80
10.4 Amazing Stargazer Sky Window 81 10.5 Additional Options 81
11 Working with Clients – Step by Step 82
11.1 Initial Contact 83 11.2 Meeting 84 11.3 Close Sale 86
11.4 Complete Job 87 12 Resources 89
12.1 Checklist – Potential Customer Contact 90 12.2 Checklist – Potential Customer Meeting 91
12.3 Checklist – Close Sale 92 12.4 Checklist – Complete Job 93 12.5 Worksheet - Estimate 94
12.6 Worksheet - Installation Appointment 95 12.7 Client – Star Packages 96 12.8 Client – Service Agreement 98
12.9 Client – Lighting Information 100 12.10 Client – Testimonial Form 101
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
4
Welcome Congratulations on taking the first step towards becoming a successful entrepreneur by
purchasing your Amazing Murals complete business startup kit. We welcome you to our unique group of entrepreneurs who have become independent
business owners, providing an in-demand service to their community.
Operating your own mural business is both fun and rewarding. The process of getting started is easy with the help of our Amazing Murals training guide and startup materials.
We encourage you to take your time to read through the materials completely and follow the instructions provided to get started quickly and confidently.
Painting glow in the dark star murals is both a rewarding and in-demand service that can be extremely profitable. Using our unique system, you’ll be amazed how simple it
is to get started with no previous experience necessary. Our rapid techniques are simple and extremely effective allowing anyone to become a star mural artist in a very short amount of time.
We look forward to working with you as you begin your exciting new business opportunity. Your customers will be truly amazed at the results!
IMPORTANT NOTE
The techniques and methods discussed in the following instruction manual are proprietary and may not be shared. It is required that you sign and return the Confidentiality Agreement prior to starting your business.
Amazing Murals™ Business
Star Murals Complete Training Guide
© 2013 NAHIP, LLC
www.MuralBusiness.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This instruction manual contains material protected under
International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of
this material is prohibited. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by
any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from
NAHIP, LLC.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
5
Supplies & Tools Your Amazing Murals business startup & training kit includes the majority of items
necessary to start your own business. You will also need some basic supplies and tools as described below, many of which you may already own.
Start-up Kit Items Included
(3) GLOWMAX™ Powder 2oz in each of 3 colors (3) 8oz Acrylic Gel Medium
(3) Paint Mixing jars (10) Wood Paint Mixing Sticks (6) Paint Squeeze Bottles (Boston style)
(6) Funnels (6) Paint Syringes Star Applicator Pole
Star Applicator Felt Circles Star/Comet Stencil Brush Pack Artist Brush
Effects Sponges Effects Wide Brushes Planet Stencils
Black Hole Stencils Removable Glue Dots (for stencils) (1) Clip-on Utility Light
(2) Black Ultra UV Lights Constellation Templates on CD Blue Tack Putty
Cheesecloth (for effects)
Supplies The following supplies will be needed and may be purchased at your local hardware or
home improvement center. Artist paper pads for purposes of practicing may be purchased at Walmart or an Art/Craft supply store.
Drop Clothes Latex Gloves Paint Tray
Paint Conditioner/Reducer (optional) Painter’s Tape Artist Paper Pad for Acrylics
Portfolio Case (to hold samples)
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
6
The following tools will also be needed, some of which you may already own. Consider
one of the folding ladder systems such as Little Giant which offers a great solution and can fold up to fit into the trunk of an automobile. Many other brands are also available, simply do a web search on ‘folding step ladder’ to find additional products or visit your
local home improvement center. Tools
Step Ladder (Little Giant 6’ to 10’ Recommended) Tool Bag or Tool Bucket
(2) Extension Cords Heavy Dark Colored Cloth (to block out window light) Tape Measure
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
7
Paint Mixing Overview
Mixing your own paint is simple and offers more flexibility with consistency and color control. You will also appreciate that mixing your own paint is about half the cost of other options and will provide the highest quality product when using our GLOWMAX™
powder which is exclusively available to Amazing Mural business customers.
GLOWMAX™ powder is engineered to provide the longest glow durations by ensuring the mineral particle size is optimal for mural applications. In addition, the GLOWMAX™ powder particles are coated allowing applications in water based mediums and is non-
toxic, safe and odorless. It is very important to use a water based medium to mix with the glow powder to ensure it is easily applied, odorless and transparent.
You may also optionally use an Acrylic/Latex Paint conditioner or water to thin paint to desired consistency which is common when mixing effects paints and is discussed in more detail in this section.
Ingredients
Artist Gel Medium: Golden Soft Gel (Gloss) or Golden Soft Gel (Matte)
Gloss will shine brighter and appear transparent on white painted surfaces, Matte will not shine as bright but appear more transparent on color painted surfaces. We suggest using Golden Soft Gel (Gloss) on white surfaces and (Matte) on
colored surfaces. Your business startup kit includes: (3) Golden Brand Soft Gel (Gloss) Medium
containers which is most commonly used for painting white ceilings. Additional medium may be purchased at any art supply store locally or online.
GLOWMAX™ Glow Powder: Available directly from Amazing Murals™
Your business startup kit includes: (3) GLOWMAX™ Powder 2oz in each of 3
colors
Paint Conditioner or Water: “Paint Easy” Latex Paint Conditioner
You may also use any other brand or water to thin paint which makes it easier to apply for some effects. Some mural artists prefer NOT to thin their paints, try it
both ways and see which way you prefer.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
8
Star Mural Paint
Medium: Golden Soft Gel (Gloss)
Colors: GLOWMAX™ Solar Yellow-Green (Brightest) & GLOWMAX™ Galactic Aqua Ratio: 1oz GLOWMAX™ powder to 4 oz Medium
GLOWMAX™ powders come in 2oz jars so no measuring is required, you may simply mix the entire 2oz jar of powder with the entire 8oz jar of medium in the empty mixing
jar provided. Mix thoroughly for one to two minutes using a wide wooden stick & Seal tightly with lid.
You may optionally add 1 oz of Latex Paint conditioner to every 8 oz of the above mixture. Slight thinning works well for Syringe application of stars however we recommend you start without thinning.
Star Mural Effects Paint
Medium: Golden Soft Gel (Gloss - Brighter effects) or Golden Soft Gel (Matte)
Colors: GLOWMAX™ Galactic Aqua, Cosmos Blue or Solar Yellow-Green
Ratio: 1oz GLOWMAX™ powder to 4 oz Medium GLOWMAX™ powders come in 2oz jars so no measuring is required, you may simply
mix the entire 2oz jar of powder with the entire 8oz jar of medium in the empty mixing jar provided. Mix thoroughly for one to two minutes using a wide wooden stick & Seal tightly with lid.
Thinning:
Mix as instructed above, then thin as needed for effects such as nebulas
and gas clouds. We suggest keeping a supply of regular non-thinned paints in the 3 colors then thinning enough paint as needed per job. To thin for effects, simply mix the medium/GLOWMAX™ powder mixture at a
rate of 2oz to 1oz paint conditioner or water. Mix thoroughly for one to two minutes using a wide wooden stick.
Get Creative: You can be creative by experimenting with various combinations of pigment and thinner to make paint of varying intensities for adding
effects. Ensure you label containers with exact amount of pigment and thinner used so that you can recreate the same desired effect in the future.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
9
Beginner Instructions
The best way to get started is to simply create the 3 GLOWMAX™ paint colors using the following steps for each of the 3 colors:
1. Pour an 8oz Golden Soft Gel (Gloss) medium into an empty clear container. 2. Pour a 2oz (entire small jar) of GLOWMAX™ powder into the mixing container.
3. Mix the powder and medium thoroughly for one to two minutes using a wide wooden stick & seal tightly with lid.
Mix the Solar Yellow-Green Color
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
10
Mix the Galactic Aqua Color
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
11
Mix the Cosmos Blue Color
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
12
Colors will be used exactly as mixed for stars and most effects. Further instructions and color recommendations will be discussed in the ‘Techniques’ section of this guide.
As you gain more experience you can mix any size batches of paint to meet your needs. You’ll find that your initial batch of paints can last quite a while since only a small
amount of paint is needed per mural. Storage
Store mixed paints in a cool dark location with lid tightly sealed. Always remix thoroughly for a couple minutes with wooden stick prior to use.
After mixing a new jar of paint, mark the jar with the date so you can easily determine when it was mixed. Paint may be stored for up to 2 years.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
13
Lighting & Murals Lighting Sources
The brightness and type of bulb determines the efficiency at which phosphorescent material charges. Efficient bulbs not only charge faster, but can obtain a brighter level
of glow in your star murals.
Here is a simple list of lighting sources in order from the MOST to LEAST effective:
Direct Sunlight
Black Light – Tube or Spiral UV LED’s Fluorescent Bulbs – Tube
Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulb (also called CFL) “Daylight” Incandescent Bulb – Standard Light Bulb Blue/Purple LED’s
White LED’s
Background Information
The efficiency of light as a phosphorescent charging source is determined by its brightness and its spectrum. White light is comprised of equal amounts of all of the colors, such as red, green, and blue. White light bulbs typically also emit ultraviolet
(UV) light, which is the "color" above purple in the spectrum, which humans cannot see. Each part of the spectrum effects glow in the dark materials differently.
A standard incandescent light bulb emits similar amounts of the four colors above. The green does not affect the glow pigments. The red discharges and the blue charges in
similar amounts, which results in a cancelation. The result is that only the ultraviolet is working to charge the phosphorescent pigments.
Therefore, when using a 100 watt incandescent light bulb as a charging source, only about 10-25 watts are working to actually charge the pigment. Therefore, a 60 watt black light bulb will far outperform the higher powered white light.
The efficiency of white light can be determined by the ratios of the colors contained. "Warm" lights contain more red and therefore are poor for charging glow in the dark
items. "Cool" or "Daylight" bulbs contain more blue and therefore are slightly more efficient. Fluorescent bulbs, both CFL and tube style, naturally emit more ultraviolet light, which makes them more efficient.
Black lights have another major advantage. White light bulbs cause the human eye to
adjust to the bright light. When the light is removed, it takes 15 minutes for human eyes to adjust back to the darkness. If your eyes are adjusted for a bright room, then even the brightest phosphorescent material will appear dim when the light is removed.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
14
Black lights do not cause your eyes to readjust. For most applications, this will cause
the glow in the dark materials to "appear" considerably brighter. The final major consideration is direct vs. reflected light. Many ceiling fixtures are
designed to point light down onto a room. Therefore, the only light reaching the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling is reflected. Reflected light is extremely inefficient for charging.
This holds true for sunlight entering through a window. While a room inside may look bright, it is mostly from reflected light. This is also why glow in the dark house
numbers on a west-facing house are brighter at 10pm than an east-facing house.
Charging Time "Maximum Charge" will change depending on the light source. A black light on for
seconds can cause murals to glow brighter than an incandescent bulb lit for hours. Of course, the speed of charge is also determined by the light source.
Under black light, most pigments will get to 80% of their charge within seconds, 90% over 30 seconds, 95% over about 2 minutes, 100% in about 10 minutes. Using a
fluorescent bulb can achieve an adequate charge in about 10 minutes. In conclusion, use a black light if possible. Your customers however may prefer to use
compact fluorescent CFL "Daylight" bulbs in their lamps and ceiling lighting fixtures which work very well at charging the glow pigments in a short amount of time.
If your customer has any issues with achieving an adequate charge, simply suggest the addition of a small lamp containing a black light CFL bulb like the ones you use for painting murals to quickly charge the glow pigments in their mural for a couple minutes
before turning out the lights.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
15
Mural Techniques A variety of techniques are available to make your amazing glow in the dark star
murals. Study the techniques below then practice them using some inexpensive colored acrylic paint and paper. You may find it easier to practice using an easel to hold your practice paper.
You do not have to utilize all of the techniques demonstrated; simply use the
techniques you find most comfortable to use initially. The key to a great mural is to combine a few techniques creating a random looking mural with stars of varying sizes which will look realistic. In addition, it is important to use at least two paint colors
typically the brightest (Solar Yellow-Green) & (Galactic Aqua) for a realistic effect. NOTE: Training images included in this guide are done with bright colored orange
paint for illustration purposes so you can more easily view the techniques. We suggest using an inexpensive colored acrylic craft paint to practice then once comfortable with the techniques practice use the glow paints with your black light as you'll do when
creating a full mural for customers.
MAIN TECHNIQUES:
STAR FIELDS
3D STARS
BRIGHT STAR SHOOTING STARS AND COMETS
MOONS & PLANETS
BLACK HOLES
CONSTELLATIONS
NEBULA & GAS CLOUDS
GALAXIES
PERSONALIZATION
Now for the fun part, let’s get started! Gather your supplies and setup an area in your
home where you can practice comfortably.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
16
STAR FIELDS
Technique 1: Tools Required: Squeeze bottle, funnel and extension pole with felt tip.
1. Fill the squeeze bottle a minimum of half way using the funnel provided. Use one of the small round dowels provided to force the paint down the funnel if necessary, this is typically necessary when using the glow paints.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
17
2. Assemble the extension pole by screwing the 3 sections together. Next, squeeze a small bead of paint onto the felt tip of the extension pole.
3. Apply to the surface by placing felt tip flat against the surface and applying light
pressure. You’ll find that after a little practice you can go fast with this method.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
18
Using the squeeze bottle and felt tip extension pole, you can rapidly apply a large number of stars while standing on the floor which saves time.
For additional reach on high ceilings without having to use a ladder, you may purchase a painter’s extension pole such as the ones available on the Sure-Line
website at: www.shurline.com. Simply attach a felt circle to the end of the pole.
Use of this technique may not be possible on heavily textured surfaces. Following
the completion of each job, peel off the felt circle tip and discard, replacing with a new one.
Repeat the process above to create a field of stars as shown below:
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
19
Technique 2: Tools required: Round Stencil brushes in several sizes.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
20
1. Dip the round brush into the glow paint slightly enough to cover the bottom surface of the brush.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
21
2. Press the paint coated brush flat against the surface and twist slightly.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
22
Repeat the process above to create a field of stars as shown below:
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
23
Completed Star Fields (Techniques 1 & 2)
The pictures below show a close up view of a dense star field. A more distant view of these stars on a ceiling will appear as a realistic star field.
TIP: Use 2 paint colors Solar Yellow-Green & Galactic Aqua to create depth and a
more realistic looking star field.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
24
3D STARS
Tools required: Syringe & cup
1. Press the syringe plunger all the way into the syringe, dip the tip into the cup and slowly pull back the syringe plunger to fill it with paint.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
25
2. Press the syringe plunger with your thumb slowly to create a small bead of paint at the end of the syringe.
3. Quickly touch the bead of paint against your painting surface and make a small
circular motion with the syringe tip to slightly spread the paint. You can apply a variety of different size starts by varying the size of the paint bead forced out of your syringe.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
26
TIPS: Prepare several syringes with paint before you start working to make the painting process go faster when working on a ladder. Once you start using the thicker
glow paint you will find that this method is a bit easier than when using practice paint and allows you to rapidly install many small stars. Use 2 paint colors Solar Yellow-Green & Galactic Aqua to create depth and a more realistic looking star field.
This method works very well for ceilings with a textured surface.
Completed 3D Stars (Large & Small)
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
27
BRIGHT STAR
Tools required: Artist brush
1. Dip an artist’s paint brush bristles approximately 75% into the paint.
2. Paint two lines, one vertical and another horizontal over an existing star previously painted. Paint the vertical line slightly longer for a bright star effect.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
28
Completed Bright Star
The picture below shows a close up view of a bright star. A more distant view of this star on a ceiling will appear as a realistic star that shines extra bright.
SHOOTING STARS & COMETS
Tools required:
Round stencil brushes (small/medium for shooting stars, large for comets)
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
29
1. Dip the round brush bristles approximately 75% into the paint.
2. Press the paint coated brush flat against the surface and twist slightly to form
the round portion of the shooting star or comet. You can move the brush in a circular motion from the center outwards to create a larger star or comet head.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
30
3. Next while still holding the brush against the surface, angle the brush approximately 45 degrees and slowly drag across the surface while applying
consistent pressure in one motion to remove the remaining paint from the brush which will create a tail that fades.
This technique takes some practice to get comfortable with the amount of pressure, amount of paint and brush angle required to create the desired effect. Some artists find it easier to create the tail in several brush strokes, varying the amount of paint on the
brush to achieve the desired effect.
Note: The same technique applies for both comets and shooting stars however you may optionally choose a larger stencil brush for comets.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
31
Completed Comet
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
32
Completed Shooting Stars
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
33
MOONS & PLANETS
Tools required: Circular cutout stencils in various sizes, removable adhesive (glue dots or tack putty), sponge, stencil brush
1. Apply removable glue dots to the back of your circular stencil and apply to the painting surface.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
34
2. Apply a small amount of paint to the bristles of a stencil brush and dab onto the perimeter of the stencil, use more paint as needed until the perimeter is
completed. Hold the stencil brush perpendicular to the surface when dabbing so that the flat end of the brush is flat against the surface. The point is to obtain a crisp outline without paint going under the stencil. As you gain more experience
you may find that you can skip this step and create the entire effect using step 3 detailed below.
3. Next, dip a sponge into a small amount of paint and dab onto the painting surface to fill in the middle of the circular stencil. You can use as much or little paint as you like to create different effects. Using more paint will make the
moon or planet look closer and brighter while using less paint creates a more distant and textured effect.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
35
4. Remove the stencil and adhesive to reveal the completed art work.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
36
Paint the entire stencil in solid color using a brush for a bright moon or planet effect.
TIPS: Use GLOWMAX™ Yellow-Green paint for moons & either GLOWMAX™ Galactic Aqua or
Cosmos Blue for planets. Use a variety of sponges to create varying textures.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
37
Completed Moons & Planets
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
38
Large and small stencils are included, you can easily create your own custom size stencils using stencil film and a circle cutter (Fiskars Brand recommended)
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
39
BLACK HOLES
Tools required: Circular stencils in various sizes, removable adhesive (glue dots or blue putty), sponge, stencil brush (optional)
1. Apply removable glue dots to the back of your circular stencil and apply to the painting surface.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
40
2. You may optionally apply a small amount of paint to the bristles of a stencil brush and dab onto the perimeter of the stencil covering about a half inch out
from the perimeter of the circle, use more paint as needed until the perimeter is completed and a complete circle is defined. This method creates a crisp edge around the black hole. Many mural artists simply use a sponge technique as
described in step 3 below for the entire effect but feel free to try this method to see which you prefer.
3. Next, dip a textured sponge into a small amount of paint and dab onto the painting surface from the perimeter of the circle outwards until the paint is removed from the sponge completely. Repeat this process until you have
sponged outward around the entire circle stencil. You can vary the distance you sponge outward from the stencil to create different fading effects. Have fun and be creative experimenting with different amounts of paint and different textured
sponges and colors.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
41
4. Remove the stencil and adhesive to reveal the completed art work.
TIP:
Use GLOWMAX™ Yellow-Green approximately 1 inch around perimeter then sponge different colors to fade into background using less paint as you move outward.
Black holes may be done with any color or combination of colors.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
42
Completed Black Holes
Completed using Solar Yellow-Green paint around perimeter of hole with stencil brush followed by sponging technique with Galactic Aqua paint and Cosmos Blue Paint.
Completed using Solar Yellow-Green paint around perimeter of hole with sponge
technique followed by Galactic Aqua paint using sponging technique.
Several stars were added after the black holes were painted using Solar Yellow-Green.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
43
CONSTELLATIONS
Tools required: Constellation Print, blue putty, paint syringe, GLOWMAX™ Solar Yellow-Green paint
Print out any constellation from the constellation library provided on CD in your training kit. We have selected the most popular constellation “Ursa Major” also known as the Big
Dipper or Big Bear.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
44
Removable Adhesive Putty is used to mark star locations.
Fill syringe with paint about half way full.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
45
Roll adhesive putty into small balls (3 sizes to represent different star sizes)
Constellations can be made in a variety of ways such as by using stencils, free hand or
using a projector. We suggest that you use either the free hand or projector methods since creating large stencils can be difficult to work with when on a ceiling. The free hand method is actually quite easy and works well for simple constellations.
Using the constellation library provided in your kit, you can quickly and easily paint constellations using the instructions below.
Free Hand (Option 1)
Prepare star markers using the blue tack putty. Make three sizes of the star markers (small, medium & large) from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch in size.
Using the library of stencils as a guide, you can approximate the placement of stars.
1. Choose a constellation from the library 2. Print on 8.5 x 11 paper or larger
3. Apply Star Markers - Apply the tack putty start markers, referencing the printed stencil as a guide
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
46
4. Make Adjustments - Move the star markers as necessary after viewing from a
distance to ensure they are spaced properly
Note: Each constellation guide indicates star sizes, for a more realistic constellation use small, medium and large star markers to allow you to easily paint the appropriate star
size that is part of the constellation.
5. Create Stars - Create a star using your GLOWMAX™ Solar Yellow-Green paint to the right of each star marker. Remove each star marker following the creation of
each star and save for reuse. You may use any star creation technique you prefer as described Techniques section for creating Star Fields or 3D Stars.
Ensure that you use an adequate amount of paint so the constellation glows bright. We also suggest you paint the stars slightly larger than your regular star fields stars.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
47
TIP: Start with simple constellations such as the big dipper "Ursa Major". Offer a simple
selection of constellations at the start of your business then offer additional choices as you gain experience.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
48
Completed Constellation of Ursa Major
Free Hand (Option 2) If you prefer a very precise method, you can easily use a constellation from the library
and apply a multiplier to the distances in order to achieve the size constellation needed for your project.
Prepare star markers using the blue tack putty. Make three sizes of the star markers (small, medium & large) from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch in size.
1. Choose a constellation from the library
2. Print on 8.5 x 11 paper or larger
3. Using a ruler, measure the distance between stars on your print out, write the
number on your print out in between the measured stars. Repeat until you have a measurement between all stars.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
49
4. Determine your Multiplier (Number of times larger than your printout you would like for your painted constellation) There is no right or wrong answer for
determining your multiplier. You may want a number of smaller constellations in your mural or perhaps just
one large one. Feel free to experiment with a few different ones to see how they look for the specific space.
5. Multiply Measurements - Multiply each measurement on your print out by your Multiplier and write above each measurement (use a different color ink) You may also follow this process using additional multipliers, recording each in a different
color ink so that each set of measurements is clear.
6. Apply Star Markers - Apply the first ball of tack putty to the ceiling at left most
position.
7. Apply Remaining Markers - Using your print out with measurements, measure
the distance from the left most star to the next for the constellation. You can approximate the angle between starts at this point and make adjustments once all the star markers are applied.
Repeat until all stars for the constellation are marked on the ceiling.
Note: Each constellation guide indicates star sizes, for a more realistic constellation use small, medium and large star markers to allow you to easily
paint the appropriate star size that is part of the constellation.
8. Examine Star Markers to ensure the constellation looks correct
9. Create Stars - Create a star using your GLOWMAX™ Solar Yellow-Green paint to
the right of each star marker. Remove each star marker following the creation of
each star and save for reuse. You may use any star creation technique you prefer as described Techniques section for creating Star Fields or 3D Stars.
Ensure that you use an adequate amount of paint so the constellation glows bright. We also suggest you paint the stars slightly larger than your regular star fields stars.
Custom Stencil Printing
You may also optionally print any of the images from the constellation library on CD in a larger size than one page to create your own custom sized stencils. Use either card
stock heavy weight paper or stencil film in your printer and adjust the ‘printer properties’ to select a custom size tiled over multiple pages. Settings are specific to your printer model and often listed as ‘multi-page’ or ‘poster’ settings. Once printed,
attach using tape and cut out the star holes using an X-Acto razor knife (triangles or squares are easier to cut and work fine for star stencils). You can then affix the stencil to the ceiling using painter’s tape or another temporary adhesive.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
50
Projector Method
You can optionally purchase an educational planetarium projector which may be found at Walmart, Target, Discovery store or UncleMilton.com. The typical price for a projector is approximately $30 to $40.
The popular Star Planetarium pictured below is available on www.UncleMilton.com for only $34.95.
Instructions:
1. Project Constellation - Stand in the center of the room and adjust the
planetarium to project the image you want. You'll quickly notice that the
planetarium projects a horizon to horizon image. You may use a ladder or table to position the planetarium at a height which gives you the image size you feel looks best.
2. Create Stars - Create a star using your GLOWMAX™ Solar Yellow-Green paint on
each projected star. You may use any star creation technique you prefer as
described Techniques section for creating Star Fields or 3D Stars. Ensure that you use an adequate amount of paint so the constellation glows bright. We also
suggest you paint the stars slightly larger than your regular star fields stars.
Pros:
Very quick to setup and paint Cons:
Projection causes some constellations to get slightly warped and some
constellations only appear close to the horizon making it hard to project them onto the ceiling. A projector typically works well for larger rooms.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
51
NEBULA & GAS CLOUDS
Brush Technique (smaller areas)
Tools Required: Fat stencil brush, GLOWMAX™ Cosmos Blue or Galactic Aqua paint
Nebula and gas clouds can be achieved using simple dabbing technique with a wide
brush and a small amount of paint.
1. Dip only the tip of the brush into the paint a slight amount just enough to coat the bottom of the bristles.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
52
2. Dab the brush in a random manner on the surface holding the brush vertically.
3. Continue dabbing the paint against the surface until the paint is removed from
the brush. This adds additional dimension to your mural and is typically applied over your star field for a realistic effect.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
53
Completed Nebula / Gas Clouds
Completed using fat stencil brush with dabbing technique with Cosmos Blue paint. Stars were added immediately after creating the nebula effect using Solar Yellow-Green
paint.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
54
Rag Rolling Technique (larger areas)
Tools required: Cheese cloth, pan, water or latex paint conditioner (as thinning agent), rubber gloves, GLOWMAX™ Cosmos Blue or Galactic Aqua paint
When working with a larger area, a rolling technique works extremely well and is
similar to a rag rolling technique commonly used when painting walls.
1. Start with a piece of cheese cloth approximately 12 x 12 or a cotton rag. Pour
some paint into a pan and thin slightly using either water or a latex paint conditioner available at your home improvement center. Thin the glow paint so it is the same consistency as normal wall paint.
2. Saturate the cheesecloth or painter's rag with water then ring it out so that it
remains damp. Twist the rag into a spiral using two hands and roll it in the
thinned paint, ringing out any excess.
3. Roll the twisted rag across the surface from left to right. Do not smudge or drag
the rag across the surface because this will leave lines.
4. Lift the rag up and then roll diagonally from the same spot. Alternate between up-and-down, side-to-side and diagonal directions as you cover the entire surface where you want the effect. Repeat this process until the desired area is
covered. This adds additional dimension to your mural and is typically applied over your star field for a realistic effect.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
55
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
56
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
57
Completed Nebula / Gas Clouds
Completed using cheesecloth rag rolling technique with Galactic Aqua paint. Stars were
added immediately after creating the nebula effect using Solar Yellow-Green glow paint.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
58
Sponge Technique
Tools required: Sea Sponges, pan, water or latex paint conditioner (as thinning agent), rubber gloves, Cosmos Blue Glow Paint
1. Pour some paint into a pan and thin slightly using either water or a latex paint conditioner available at your home improvement center. Thin the glow paint so it is the same consistency as normal wall paint.
2. Saturate the sponge with water then ring it out so that it remains damp.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
59
3. Lightly dip one side of the sponge into the paint and dab randomly on the surface, turn the sponge over using a side not dipped in paint and dab over the
paint to produce a lighter effect.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
60
Use of a variety of sea sponges for interesting and unique effects. This adds additional dimension to your mural and may be applied over your star field or
prior to your star field for a realistic effect.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
61
Completed Nebula / Gas Clouds
Completed using sponge technique with Cosmos Blue glow paint. Stars were added immediately after creating the nebula effect using Solar Yellow-Green glow paint.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
62
GALAXIES
Tools required: Variety of Sea Sponges, pan, Solar Yellow-Green paint
To create a galaxy or dense pattern of stars, use a sea sponges to apply the paint.
Choose a sponge that will create a density of dots that matches your tastes.
1. Pour some paint into a pan and thin slightly using either water or a latex paint
conditioner available at your home improvement center. Thin the glow paint so it is the same consistency as normal wall paint.
2. Saturate the sponge with water then ring it out so that it remains damp.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
63
3. Lightly dip one side of the sponge into the paint and dab randomly on the surface. Repeat this process until the desired area is covered.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
64
4. You can easily create the Milky Way galaxy by using this technique and sponging a span of dense stars across a ceiling. Consider making your galaxy more intriguing by adding an additional color such as aqua or blue on the outer fringe
of your galaxy, blending it into the mural. There is not one set way to paint a galaxy, refine your skills and bring out your talents by experimenting with different sponges, paints and also by painting different sizes.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
65
Completed Galaxy
Completed using sponge technique with Solar Yellow-Green glow paint. Add some additional individual stars on top of the completed galaxy for additional interest.
Have fun and don't be afraid to try something new. Search the internet for images of
galaxies to get some inspiration for your murals. You can also paint spiral galaxies using the same dabbing technique with a small sea
sponge approximately 2 inches in diameter. Start by sponging a center of the galaxy then work outwards in a spiral pattern until you have achieved the size needed.
If you paint the center and approximately half of the spiral using yellow-green paint then switch to blue you'll create an interesting and realistic effect. Also try painting
only the center with yellow-green and use all blue for the remaining spiral.
TIP: Paint your galaxy after you have completed your Star Fields, painting the galaxy over the stars.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
66
PERSONALIZATION
Tools Required: Blue putty, paint syringe, Solar Yellow-Green glow paint
Personalization is a nice additional option you can offer customers by painting a kid's name or message in the stars.
1. Start by determining the letter size based on the space and by understanding your customer's request. A typical letter size is approximately 6 to 10 inches but can be any size the customer would like. Typically personalization effects are
done towards a corner however they can be done in larger letters across the entire space.
2. Use the removable blue putty to spell out the name or message, spacing the markers approximately 2 inches apart. Consider asking the customer to confirm
the placement of the letters prior to actually painting the stars.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
67
3. Fill a syringe with yellow-green glow paint as explained in the 3D Star technique
above. Create a 3D star using the syringe technique to the side of each blue
marker.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
68
4. Now that all the stars have been created, remove the blue putty start markers and store for reuse.
An additional optional effect you may apply is making a star or two in each letter appear brighter. Use the 'Bright Star' technique described in the star technique section which involves painting a vertical and horizontal line across a star to give the illusion of
a brighter star.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
69
Completed Personalization
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
70
Complete Murals Combining Techniques
Combining the individual techniques in the appropriate sequence will allow you to easily create a wide variety of unique murals.
You can begin to develop your skills as a star mural professional by starting with simple combinations. For example, you can create an amazing star mural using the star field
techniques and applying using two different paint colors. It is very simple but creates an amazing visual effect by creating a large number of stars.
Once you are comfortable with your star creation technique, add another element such as a constellation. It is important to follow the appropriate sequence below which makes it easier to create your mural. In this case, create the constellation first, and
then add your star field to the mural. Next you might try adding a galaxy effect over a section of the star field. You may use
as any number of techniques you like to create a truly unique mural perfect for your customer's space.
When working in a smaller space, it typically looks best when using a smaller number of techniques to complete the mural.
The larger the space, the easier it is to incorporate a variety of techniques. We will discuss typical packages to offer your customers as well as add-on options later in this guide.
Technique Sequence
Follow the sequence below when incorporating multiple techniques into your mural which makes the entire process easier and faster:
1. Constellations
2. Personalization 3. Planets, Black Holes & Moons
4. Shooting Stars & Comets
5. Star Fields & 3D Stars 6. Galaxies
7. Nebula & Gas Clouds
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
71
Sky Windows
A sky window is simply a smaller version of a full mural in either a square or circular shape. It is a more affordable option to offer for customers who would like an amazing star mural but are on a budget. If your customer cannot afford a full ceiling mural, be
sure to suggest a sky window as another option. A sky window is typically painted over a bed to provide a dramatic effect of looking
through a window into space. The typical size offerings are a 5, 6 or 7 foot square OR a 5, 6 or 7 foot diameter circle.
A sky window can be painted in any location however it is often positioned over a bed approximately 3 to 4 feet from the head board to enable viewing while the customer is lying in bed.
Measure & Mark:
Start by carefully measuring the size chosen and mark using either removable BLUE painters tape for a square, or blue tack putty for a circle. A simple technique to easily mark for a circle sky window is to take a piece of string half the length of the size
chosen and tie it around a push pin. Stick the push pin into the ceiling at the center point of where the circle will be painted. While pulling the string to make it taught,
rotate it around the push pin placing a small ball of blue tack putty on the ceiling approximately every 4 inches. The result will be a clearly marked circle that will be painted inside.
We suggest that you confirm the placement of the sky window with your customer prior to beginning the painting process to ensure it meets their expectations with regards to
location. Paint:
The size of the sky window will determine how many techniques may be used to complete the mural. The smaller the window, the fewer techniques are typically used
so that the mural maintains a realistic appearance. Using the techniques explained earlier in this guide, complete painting the sky window
up to the inside marking of your tape or blue tack putty and remove your marking tape or putty once completed.
Typical techniques included in a sky mural are Star Fields, Shooting stars and a moon. A larger sky window provides more space to include additional effects such as Galaxies or Gas Clouds.
Offering a sky window option is a great way to fit into the budget of any prospective customer.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
72
Practice Individual Techniques
Now that you have reviewed the special star mural techniques it’s time to get started and have some fun!
Begin by getting an artist’s paper pad, medium to heavy weight in 9x12 size for practicing your techniques. You'll also need to some bright colored acrylic paint which
is included in your materials. Have patience and don't be afraid to make mistakes, if you are not happy with the results just start over on a new piece of paper. Also keep in mind that your practice paint will be not be quite as thick as your glow paint so some
techniques will actually be easier once you begin using the glow paints. Practice each of the following individual techniques detailed earlier in this guide on
paper to start until you feel confident that can apply the technique.
STAR FIELDS
3D STARS
BRIGHT STAR
SHOOTING STARS AND COMETS
MOONS & PLANETS
BLACK HOLES
CONSTELLATIONS
NEBULA & GAS CLOUDS
GALAXIES
PERSONALIZATION
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
73
Combinations
Once you are comfortable with each technique individually, try combining some of the techniques using the following sequence:
Sequence to apply techniques:
1. Constellations
2. Personalization 3. Planets, Black Holes & Moons 4. Shooting Stars & Comets
5. Star Fields & 3D Stars 6. Galaxies 7. Nebula & Gas Clouds
Start by combining simple techniques on paper, you may find it easier to purchase a
larger paper pad from your art supply store for practicing combined techniques. Start out by trying simple combinations such as a star field and moon or star field and
constellation.
Next try some shooting stars and comets then work your way up to a combination of star fields and galaxies or star fields and gas clouds. You can literally put any combination of items together for your murals.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
74
Do It Room Preparation
In preparation for finally putting all your techniques to use in an actual mural, follow these steps to prepare:
1. Block Windows & Doorways It is essential that you block any light coming into the room in preparation for
painting your mural. You will be using a special black light while painting your mural to clearly see the glow paints as you apply them to the surface. By blocking out any light coming into the room from windows or hallways you will
allow the black light to most effectively illuminate the room. You can easily block out any light by using any dark and dense fabric you can
find at a fabric or craft store. You'll also find that many Walmart stores carry inexpensive fabrics. Simply have about 6 to 8 pieces of fabric available to cover all windows and open doorways if necessary. You can attach the fabric to window
and door frames using removable tape such as blue painter's type found at any hardware or home improvement store.
2. Cover Furniture & Floors Cover all furniture and floors using either cloth or plastic drop cloths found at your local home improvement center. The cloth type works well for floors and
plastic ones work nicely for covering furniture and beds. It is very important that you do a neat and professional job to please your client and generate additional referrals.
3. Beds
If your project involves a room with a large bed it may be difficult to work
around the bed and get the desired techniques applied overhead. In this case it is often preferable to ask clients to temporarily remove the bed from the room or permit you to walk on the mattress. If the client permits you to walk on the
mattress you should do so only after all bedding has been removed and you should wear protective foot covers that are available in a paint supply store and often used by contractors when working in a home. Smaller beds are typically
not a problem to work with when since you can sit on the bed and create stars using the pole technique.
4. Setup Black Light(s) Setup one or more clip on utility lights illuminated with a black light bulb in the room. The clip on utility lights work very well and can be clipped to a ladder,
window sill or any other convenient spot in the room. Typically small to medium sized rooms can be illuminated with one black light while larger rooms may need an additional light. Clip on work lights are available at any hardware or home
improvement center in the electrical department. The black lights included are optimal for painting star murals.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
75
Note:
The black lights will instantly illuminate your glow paints so you can see the paint you are applying in the dark. Please note that the glow paints will appear differently in color while under the black light.
TIP: Turn off the black light while your mural is in progress to see how it will actually
look in the dark.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
76
5. Setup Supplies Organize your painting supplies and tools in advance so you can make efficient
use of time while painting your mural. We suggest having all your paint mixed and ready to go in advance. It is also a good idea to fill any squeeze bottles and have all the necessary tools neatly organized. Many professionals also have zip
lock bags available for storing brushes and sponges after being used so they can be cleaned up at home after the completion of a job. Utilize a plastic tool box or work bag to keep all your supplies organized and easily accessible.
Paint Murals
By following the steps detailed above in this guide, you will have acquired the basic skills and tools needed to paint real amazing murals.
You are now at a very exciting point in your training where you can see all of the skills you've learned come together to produce an incredible mural that will impress your customers and make you proud to be an amazing mural artist.
Practice painting as many murals as possible so you get used to working on a ceiling, using tools in field, working on ladder and moving around obstacles in a room such as
bed. Start out small by using just a couple techniques on a bathroom ceiling or other small room. You will be amazed by the mural you create using only the simplest star
techniques and the Solar Yellow-Green & Galactic Aqua glow paints. Once you build your confidence, expand your mural by adding additional techniques
keeping in mind the suggested sequence: Sequence to apply techniques:
1. Constellations 2. Personalization 3. Planets, Black Holes & Moons
4. Shooting Stars & Comets 5. Star Fields & 3D Stars 6. Galaxies
7. Nebula & Gas Clouds Next, practice your painting on a medium sized room adding additional techniques then
a large room. Once comfortable with your ability to put together the techniques in a real application, offer to do a mural for a friend. Use your friend as a mock client to practice coming into a home, evaluating the space and working with the client to
choose a package. Work with your friend just as though they were a real client by setting up an
appointment and coming into their home to complete the job. It is also important to time how long it takes you to complete your jobs which will be helpful when setting up appointments with real clients.
If possible, repeat this process as many times as necessary until you have a comfort level with the entire process and have refined your skills and techniques.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
77
Portfolio Create a Professional Portfolio
Purchase a large acrylic paper heavy weight paper pad from your local arts & crafts store. Dimensions of 12 x 18 or 18 x 24 will work well for creating a portfolio that you can easily show your clients.
Use the techniques you've learned to complete a sample portfolio on paper with real
glow paints to show prospective clients which will greatly help to close a sale. When meeting with prospective clients, nothing works better than to show some of your work using the high quality GLOWMAX™ paints.
While you may consider taking photographs of your work to show prospective clients, you'll find that by showing them real paintings they can fully experience the amazing
effects of your glow murals which is key to getting them to contract with you to paint a custom mural.
One option is to put together a simple portfolio showing each of the techniques
(1 page per technique):
1. Constellations
2. Personalization 3. Planets, Black Holes & Moons 4. Shooting Stars & Comets
5. Star Fields & 3D Stars 6. Galaxies 7. Nebula & Gas Clouds
Another option would be to put together a portfolio based on the packages you offer to
show a scaled down combination of techniques which match your package offerings. The typical package offerings are discussed in the next section however you are free to
offer any packages you like. It is quite common for new Amazing Mural artists to start out offering simple star
murals with the option of only a few simple extras. Once you gain more, additional offerings can be made available. Basically, as you start out only offer services based on your comfort level, you'll have plenty of time to refine your skills, practice and make
more services available.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
78
Professional Portfolio Samples
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
79
Purchase a portfolio carrying case from your local art or craft supply store to protect and transport your portfolio samples to prospective clients.
Create a Client Portfolio One of the most powerful marketing tools is your own client portfolio. You can easily
build a portfolio by using a 3 ring binder with clear sheet protectors. Following the completion of each job, include 3 pages for each client containing the following items:
Summary Sheet – Include mural name, style #, description and dimensions
Mural Photos – Include before and after pictures
Testimonial – Include a customer testimonial sheet
It is also helpful to organize your portfolio into categories based on types of murals so that you can easily flip to the portfolio section based on a potential client’s interests.
Simply insert some tab dividers to label the different categories making it easier to find types of murals.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
80
Packages As an independent business owner, you are free to offer any packages or service offerings you feel make sense. In addition, you can also establish a pricing model you
feel is fair for your business. Below, please find some basic mural packages with prices you may use as is or modify to meet your needs. A packages sheet is also included on your resources CD which you may modify, print and provide to potential customers.
Amazing Backyard Stars
A dazzling 3-D view of the night sky including hundreds of stars with amazing depth
using specially formulated GLOWMAX™ paints. Includes:
Hand painted star filled night sky (2) Shooting Stars Moon or Planet
Price: Only $8.99 per square foot, additional options available
Amazing Backyard Stars & Constellations
A dazzling 3-D view of the night sky including hundreds of stars with amazing depth using specially formulated GLOWMAX™ paints with constellations.
Includes: Hand painted star filled night sky
(2) Shooting Stars Moon or Planet (3 to 6) Constellations
Price: Only $10.99 per square foot, additional options available
Amazing Deep Space Fantasy
An enhanced Amazing Backyard Stars mural with hundreds more stars to create an intense illusion of Deep Space Fantasy! Includes additional GLOWMAX™ effects paint color for additional depth. A truly unique creation for the ultimate experience!
Includes:
Hand painted star filled night sky
(2) Shooting Stars Moon or Planet (3 to 6) Constellations
Galaxies Comets Gas Clouds
Planets Black Hole
Price: Only $13.99 per square foot (May take up to 2 days)
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
81
Amazing Stargazer Sky Window
Affordable smaller scale original illusion mural painted over your bed measuring 5' square or 5' diameter circle
Price: Only $349.99
Amazing Stargazer Expanded Sky Window A larger window view of the night sky in a size that will measure up to even a king size
bed! Still affordable yet you get so much more sky with a 7' square! Price: Only $599.99
Additional Options
Planet, Black Hole or Moon $ 20 Comets or Shooting Star (3 pack) $ 20 Constellation $ 50
Name $ 45
Additional Charges
Heavily textured ceilings $ .50 per square foot
High Ceilings (higher than 9') $ .50 per higher foot
Note:
You may limit your selection of constellations to customers to include only simple ones that only require a short amount of time to paint.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
82
Working with Clients – Step by Step
CONTACT
Provide General Information
Setup Appointment
MEETING
Examine Space Measure Show Portfolio
Estimate Cross-Sell
CLOSE SALE
Review Guarantee Confirm Selection Accept Deposit
Setup Installation Appointment
Provide Marketing Materials
for friends & family
COMPLETE JOB
Arrive On Time
Complete Installation Take Photos Collect Payment
Provide Marketing Materials
Provide Testimonial Form
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
83
Initial Contact
General Information Initial contact may be made by potential customers in a variety of ways such as by phone, email or in person if you decide to setup a booth at home shows.
The most common ways are by phone and email after a potential customer sees your ad or picks up a brochure in a local business.
Regardless of how you are contacted, you should be well prepared to provide information about your services and pricing.
First, instill confidence by sharing that you are fully insured and can provide references if requested. It also helps to be part of any local business
organizations such as a local chamber of commerce. Also, be sure to mention that you are a member of the National Mural Association located at: www.MuralProfessionals.com.
Your website is a great way to easily provide information to potential customers. Many people will review information about your business online prior to calling
which saves time and makes it easier to setup an appointment. Request that your free web page is setup specifying your service offerings as part of your
membership in the National Association. You will get a web address to share with potential customers as follows: www.MuralProfessionals.com/yourname
Keep your pricing & services sheet provided in the business kit resources readily available to you can quickly convey package and pricing options to potential customers.
Setup an appointment
Offer to setup a personal meeting at the potential customer’s home to personally inspect their space and to show them your portfolio.
It helps to take pressure off the potential customer by ensuring that there is absolutely no obligation and your visit is free of charge. Getting in front of the customer face to face is very important to closing the sale which we’ll discuss in
the next step. Once they actually see the amazing effects created in your portfolio it becomes
much easier to obtain a new sale.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
84
Meeting
Examine Space First, introduce yourself and provide the potential customer with a brochure and business card then ask to look over the space or spaces proposed by the client.
Check the ceiling surface to see if it is smooth or textured so that you can ensure you charge accordingly. Typically, smoother surfaces can be done faster using a
pole application technique while rougher textures require hand application using brush and syringe techniques.
Measure Measure the proposed space or spaces so that you can provide an accurate estimate based on square footage.
Show Portfolio Start by showing the prospective customer samples of the actual product
utilizing your portfolio. You must first take out your samples and expose them to light to charge the
glow paint. Ask the customer if you can lay out your portfolio samples on a table or counter top which has good direct light for 5 minutes. If possible, place them
closer to a window to get natural light. Next, while your portfolio samples are getting charged take out your services
summary sheet which shows your Star Package offerings and present it to the client.
Review your service offerings and consider offering a discount if they have multiple rooms to be painted. At this point your portfolio samples should have collected enough light to be charged sufficiently for a demonstration.
Ask the potential customer to pull the shades in any room of the house to create a dark space for the demonstration. A bedroom works great since you can lay
out all of your samples on a bed. Any dark space in the home will work fine; a basement is also an option if the customer does not have good window shades to block out the light. It is also a good idea to bring your dark fabric mentioned in
the supplies section of this guide to cover any windows if necessary. Close the door to the room for complete darkness to achieve the best glowing
effect. As the customer is impressed by the demonstration, hold one of the samples up
above your head towards the ceiling and ask them to imaging their entire ceiling glowing with the amazing effects.
If the customer has children and is considering your services for the child’s room, offer to have the child view the demonstration. Children get very excited about the possibility of having their own amazing star mural and it works well if
you provide the demonstration in their room.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
85
Estimate Using the Estimate Sheet included on the Resources CD in the kit, provide the
customer with an estimate to include the following items:
Mural Size
Mural Cost (List for each package offering)
Additional Options (List if chosen by customer)
Additional Charges (Textured or High Ceilings)
Work within your client’s budget by suggesting different packages based on their
reaction to the price. Suggest a sky window option for those working with a lower mural budget.
Cross-Sell Cross selling services is a great way to grow your business and increase income.
Your Amazing Mural business also includes complete materials which will allow you to offer professional quality wall murals for your customers.
If you decide to offer wall murals, provide your customer with a brochure and marketing materials for their consideration. It’s a great opportunity to offer an
additional product and is a high profit service since the system allows you to install a wall mural quickly at a reasonable price. Once you practice the techniques explained in the guide, you’ll find that you can rapidly install these
murals which are very exciting to put in place.
Even if your customer is not interested immediately, you’ll find that many will
contact you at a later time. The addition of a wall mural can make a great gift for a child’s room and is very popular. Keep a mailing list of existing and prospective customers and communicate regularly to encourage additional sales.
Sending out a simple postcard with a discount offer a couple times per year is a great way to obtain additional business.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
86
Close Sale
Review Guarantee Providing a rock solid guarantee is a key component to closing a sale. By ensuring that your customer is 100% satisfied with their mural choice you can
greatly increase sales. Confirm Selection
Confirm the customer’s package selection and options using the service agreement included on the resources CD. Ask your customer to read the agreement and sign the document.
Accept Deposit Ask your customer to make a small deposit such as $50 in order to get on your
installation schedule and show their commitment. You can choose to accept a larger deposit however a smaller deposit will often times make it easier to close the sale.
Setup Installation Appointment Setup an appointment on your calendar that is convenient for your client and
provide an estimate of time it will take to complete the installation based on your comfort level and time it typically took you when practice murals. Also ensure
that the customer is aware of the payment methods you accept ie. Check, MasterCard, Visa etc…
Provide Marketing Materials for friends & family Provide your customer with some extra brochures and business cards for their
friends and family members. It is very common to obtain word of mouth referrals from your customers. Providing extra marketing materials makes it easy for them to pass on information about your services and is definitely worth
the effort. In addition, consider attaching a time sensitive discount coupon to each brochure
which encourages customers to share the information soon. We also suggest you show appreciation to your customers for providing referrals by offering them a discount on their next mural for their referral. Simply ask each new customer
how they learned about your business and send them a discount coupon and thank you note. Your small gesture of appreciation is worth the effort since many customers will purchase an additional mural.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
87
Complete Job
Arrive On Time Ensure that you arrive on-time for your appointment. It is important to make sure the process goes smoothly so the customer is completely satisfied and
confidently refers their friends and family to your business.
Complete Installation Prior to arriving onsite, ensure that you have first inspected and gathered the necessary supplies. Use the pre-installation checklist found on the Resources CD
to ensure you have all of the items necessary to complete the job. Review the signed service agreement to confirm the customer’s mural package
and options prior to starting. Prepare the room as detailed earlier in this guide to block out light from windows, setup black lights and cover floors and furniture with drop cloths.
Using the techniques you’ve learned in this guide, complete the mural painting.
Be sure to clean up the area once the installation has been completed. If you plan to take photos of the completed job, do not yet remove any window
coverings so the room remains dark. Take Photos
Ask the customer for permission to take a quick photo or two for your portfolio which is helpful when visiting clients to obtain new business. The use of black lights while painting the mural will have already charged the glow paint
sufficiently. Turn the flash off on your camera and snap a few pictures of your work. Finish up by removing any window coverings and then take some pictures with the lights on so you have before and after photos for your portfolio.
Collect Payment Collect the remaining balance from the customer. Ensure that you deduct any
deposits made when they placed their initial order. Consider low cost credit card processors which have the capability to swipe credit cards via your Smartphone (iPhone, Android etc..) such as : www.squareup.com or www.PayPal.com
These service providers allow you to use an existing phone to easily capture credit card payments and email a receipt to your customer.
Provide Marketing Materials Just as you did following your onsite customer visit, provide the customer with
extra brochures and business cards for their friends and family members. It is important to ensure that these are readily available since the customer will be excited about their new mural and want to show it to family and friends. Don’t
forget to attach a time sensitive coupon which can greatly encourage sales. You can offer a fixed amount off installation, discount on more than one mural or perhaps a discount on a combination of a wall mural any other products or
services you offer.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
88
Provide Testimonial Form
Provide your customer with a testimonial form along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Collect your customer testimonials and include them on your website to encourage sales.
You can also accumulate the testimonials and list them in a simple document. Print your updated testimonials and provide to customers when performing
estimates.
NOTE: All necessary forms and check lists are provided on the RESOURCES CD
included in your startup kit.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
89
Resources
The Star Murals Resources CD provided in your business training kit contains
documents in Microsoft Word format. You may copy any of the documents on the CD to your computer and modify them to meet your specific needs.
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
90
Document name: StarMuralChecklist01Contact.doc
Client Contact Checklist
Record Customer’s Name, Phone Number & Email
Ask how they learned about your business
Build Trust, Mention the following:
You are insured
You are a member of the National Mural Association Your Guarantee
Provide General Information
Discuss Package Options & Pricing
Discuss installation time
Setup an In-Home Appointment
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
91
Document name: StarMuralChecklist02ClientMeeting.doc
Client Meeting Checklist
Dress Professionally
Suggest wearing Polo style shirt with Company logo Suggest wearing Tan Pants (no jeans)
Put cell phone on vibrate or turn off
Introduction
Examine Space
Measure
Show Portfolio (Real Glow Paint Samples)
Provide Star Packages Sheet
Estimate
Complete estimate worksheet
Cross Sell Provide information & brochure for Wall Murals
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
92
Document name: StarMuralChecklist03CloseSale.doc
Close Sale Checklist
Review Guarantee
Package Selection
Ask customer to make a selection
Suggest a Sky Window if on a limited budget
Service Agreement
Complete Service Agreement worksheet & sign Ask customer to review and sign
Accept $100 Deposit
Setup Installation Appointment Choose a convenient time for the customer Add to your calendar
Provide brochures for family & friends
Add reminder to Calendar Contact customer in 1 week if not yet ready to make a
decision
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
93
Document name: StarMuralChecklist04CompleteJob.doc
Complete Job Checklist
Remind Customer
Call a day or two in advance
Check Supplies & Tools
Arrive On Time
Complete Installation
Clean Up Work Site
Take Photos
Collect Payment
Provide “Lighting Information” Sheet
Provide Marketing Materials
Provide Testimonial Form & Postage Paid Envelope
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
94
Document name: StarMuralWorksheetEstimate.doc
Star Mural Estimate
Business Name
Address
Phone Number
Customer Name:
Installation Location:
Phone Numbers:
Email Address:
Mural Dimensions:
Total Square Footage:
(Length X Width)
Package Choice & Price per Square Foot:
Package Cost:
Preparation Cost:
Additional Charges:
Total Cost
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
95
Document name: StarMuralWorksheetInstallAppointment.doc
Star Mural Installation Appointment
Business Name
Address
Phone Number
Customer Name:
Installation Location:
Installation Date:
Installation Time:
Package Name:
Additional Options:
Dimensions:
Personalization:
Reminder Call Placed:
Balance Due:
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
96
Document name: StarMuralClientStarPackages.doc
Star Packages
Business Name
Address
Phone Number
Amazing Backyard Stars
A dazzling 3-D view of the night sky including hundreds of stars with amazing depth using
specially formulated GlowMax™ paints.
Includes
• Hand painted star filled night sky
• (2) Shooting Stars
• Moon or Planet
Price: Only $8.99 per square foot Additional options available to add on
Amazing Backyard Stars & Constellations
A dazzling 3-D view of the night sky including hundreds of stars with amazing depth using
specially formulated GlowMax™ paints with constellations.
Includes
• Hand painted star filled night sky
• (2) Shooting Stars
• Moon or Planet
• (3 to 6) Constellations
Price: Only $10.99 per square foot Additional options available to add on
Amazing Deep Space Fantasy
An enhanced Amazing Backyard Stars mural with hundreds more stars to create an intense
illusion of Deep Space Fantasy! Includes additional GlowMax™ effects paint color for
additional depth. A truly unique creation for the ultimate experience!
Includes
• Hand painted star filled night sky
• (2) Shooting Stars
• Moon or Planet
• (3 to 6) Constellations
• Galaxies
• Comets
• Gas Clouds
• Planets
• Black Hole
Price: Only $13.99 per square foot May take up to 2 days
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
97
Amazing Stargazer Sky Window
Affordable smaller scale original illusion mural painted over your bed measuring 5'
square or 5' diameter circle Price: Only $349.99
Amazing Stargazer - Expanded Sky Window A larger window view of the night sky in a size that will measure up to even a king
size bed! Still affordable yet you get so much more sky with a 7' square or circle! Price: Only $599.99
Additional Options
• Planet, Black Hole or Moon $ 20 • Comets or Shooting Star (3 pack) $ 20
• Constellation $ 50 • Name $ 45
Additional Charges
• Heavily textured ceilings $ .50 per square foot
• High Ceilings (higher than 9') $ .50 per higher foot
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
98
Document name: StarMuralClientServiceAgreement.doc
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
This PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made between: [Your Company Name], a mural service company organized under the laws of the state of [Your State] ("Contractor") And _______________________________ (“Client”) with property located at
_______________________________ on this ______ day of ____________, 20_______. 1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date specified above and conclude once the services specified in the attached Schedule have been performed.
2. Professional Services. Contractor agrees to perform the services specified in the Schedule attached to this Agreement, which may be modified by the mutual written agreement of the parties.
3. Acceptance. The Contractor's services or the results of such services, shall be deemed satisfactory to and accepted by the Client unless the Contractor is notified within seven (7) days in writing. In the event of such written notice, the Contractor shall use its best efforts to make any changes required to correct any deficiencies. 4. Compensation. Client agrees to pay Contractor compensation as specified in the Schedule
attached to this Agreement within (1) day of services being performed. 5. Representations. Contractor represents and warrants that it is able to perform the services specified in the Schedule to this Agreement.
6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated if agreed upon by both the Contractor and the
Client in writing prior to services being performed by the contractor. 7. Damages. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT.
("Client") By: _____________________________________ Print Name: _____________________________________ Date: _____________________________________
[Your Company Name] ("Contractor") By: _____________________________________
Print Name: _____________________________________ Date: _____________________________________
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
99
SCHEDULE
A. Professional Services
Contractor agrees to perform the following services for the Client:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
B. Compensation
Client agrees to pay Contractor a fee of $_____________________, for services performed
as detailed in the Professional Services section of this schedule.
("Client")
By: _____________________________________
Print Name: _____________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
[Your Company Name] ("Contractor")
By: _____________________________________
Print Name: _____________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
100
Document name: StarMuralClientLightingInfo.doc
Lighting Information
Business Name
Address
Phone Number
The brightness and type of bulb determines the efficiency at which phosphorescent
material charges. Efficient bulbs not only charge faster, but can obtain a brighter level of glow in your star murals.
Here is a simple list of lighting sources in order from the
MOST to LEAST effective:
1. Direct Sunlight
2. Black Light – Tube or Spiral
3. UV LED’s
4. Fluorescent Bulbs – Tube
5. Compact Fluorescent Spiral Bulb (also called CFL) “Daylight”
6. Incandescent Bulb – Standard Light Bulb
7. Blue/Purple LED’s
8. White LED’s
Amazing Murals™ Business – Star Mural Training
101
Document name: StarMuralClientTestimonial.doc
Customer Testimonial
for
Business Name
Address Phone Number
Name:
Town:
Residence Business
Satisfaction
Rating:
Comments:
Thank you for your feedback!