Behind the Mural: How We Plan & Paint
Walls hold stories. Here is how I turn a blank space into a conversation, from the first sketch in my studio to the final brushstroke on your wall.
A self-portrait and my manifesto for my art and life practice. It's a checklist for myself: to spark change, be fearless, love more, and work harder. This is the philosophy that drives every mural I create.
My hand covered in paint, held up against a work in progress. This image captures the essence of my process. It's messy, tactile, and deeply personal. For me, this is what it looks like when the universe holds my hand.
A quick video tour of my studio, my happiest place on earth. This is where ideas are born, canvases are stretched, and paint is thrown. It's a space of creative chaos and focused work.
A video showing the digital creation process of a Tamil graffiti piece reading "Anbe Sivam" (Love is God). I often use digital tools like Procreate to sketch and refine ideas before taking them to a physical wall.
The final digital graffiti artwork, "Anbe Sivam." This style, inspired by grungy street art, allows me to explore lettering and form. These digital designs can be used for prints or as concepts for large-scale murals.
A video compilation of the stunning historical murals at the "Palace of Paintings." I draw immense inspiration from traditional Indian art forms, studying their composition, color, and storytelling to inform my own contemporary work.
A candid video of a planning session with my team. Every large project involves meticulous planning, budgeting, and collaboration. This is the behind-the-scenes work that makes the art possible.
About Behind the Mural: Process & Inspiration
Every wall tells a story, but getting there takes work. We start with a deep-dive conversation about your space and what matters to you, whether it is a child's bedroom or a public street wall. I need to know your motivation before I pick up a brush, as that is the anchor for every design decision we make together.
People often see the finished wall and assume it was just a burst of inspiration. The reality is more grounded. My process begins with dialogue. If we are working on a piece about social change or a heritage-inspired design like my work with the Thinai Project, I spend time in the research phase to ensure the visual language respects the roots of the story.
My studio is a place of creative chaos. I use Procreate to layer ideas, especially for typography or intricate graffiti pieces, before taking them to the actual surface. Whether I am using high-pressure spray paint for an edgy, urban look or fine brushes for delicate, traditional botanical motifs, the technique follows the story.
I do not just paint and leave. For high-traffic areas like kids' rooms, I apply specialized primers and heavy-duty Polyurethane varnish to handle daily scuffs. For large-scale indoor installations, I sometimes work on custom-stretched Tussar Munga silk panels, which adds a textured, tactile dimension that paint alone cannot achieve.
It gets messy. My hands are usually stained with paint, and sometimes the best parts of the mural happen when family members decide to pick up a brush and join in. Whether you want a quiet, traditional floral pattern or a loud, political graffiti piece, we build it together.
Girija
I am a middle-aged artist driven by the belief that art is political. I do not chase perfection, but I do chase energy, truth, and the messy process of making something that lasts. When I paint your walls, I am not just decorating, I am helping you find the story that belongs there.
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