Art by Tamara Hergert

Ever marvelled at the gorgeous murals that suddenly appear on a wall you've never paid attention to before? I was curious about the process of creating murals myself, so I decided to make one. Although I had seen murals around the city while driving, I was unaware of the significant amount of work needed before even preparing the wall. To clarify, my project was a mural and not graffiti. Although I used spray paint, it does not qualify as vandalism, unlike graffiti. Murals are usually commissioned by clients who want to make their walls more attractive. In my case, I approached my "client" myself. I have been drawing intermittently since my second-grade year, usually using graphite and a sketchy style of drawing. I opted for this project because it was more finished and had colors. I had always wanted to create a piece of art, but I didn't know the process. This project allowed me to produce a permanent piece of art and showcase my skills. Initially, I had planned on making a large painting, but my teacher suggested a mural, which turned out to be a better idea. Also, I learned not only about art but about marketing myself as well. When looking for mentors, I started by searching within the school community. Later, I expanded my search and found several accomplished local muralists online. I sent an email, and surprisingly, many responded, including my mentor, Tamara Hergert. Tamara is a muralist, but she has vast experience in digital art as well; she makes her sketches digitally. She never lets her artistic ego get in the way of client satisfaction, and this is demonstrated by her five-star reviews. My first meeting with her was when we painted the mural, although we usually communicated via email and Skype because of her busy schedule. Throughout the project, the most challenging aspect was coming up with ideas that were easy to paint. It was one thing to draw anything that came to mind, but it was another thing to make the idea simple enough to paint. I had to plan everything, from the timing to the materials and proposal. The school allowed me to use the sports shed's wall as a mural site, but they wanted a sports-themed mural. Fortunately, Jeremy, a parent of one of my classmates, offered me his wall. Although I had preferred a cityscape, I chose this wall instead because there was no flexibility on the school's shed. One of the highlights of this project was creating my final sketch. The sketch was incredibly versatile, making it easy for me to make last-minute changes since Jeremy was rather flexible with what he wanted on his wall. This project was more labor-intensive than I had anticipated, and it made me appreciate murals and other things more. I realized that even small projects take a considerable amount of time and effort. The actual painting was the easiest part; the majority of the work was planning and plotting how to create a good-quality mural. Overall, this project was a great learning experience, thanks to my excellent mentor, Tamara Hergert. She taught me numerous strategies for creating the perfect mural, from sketching techniques to choosing the most suitable materials. It was an unforgettable experience that will undoubtedly aid me in the future, whether I choose to paint murals professionally or pursue a different career path.

You did an amazing job! The mural has made all of my child's dreams a reality and it's truly spectacular. It's exactly what we had envisioned and is extremely meaningful to us.

Tamara was an excellent collaborator! She was a breeze to work with, even when we had to deal with incredibly precise artistic concepts. Her ability to bring my visions to life for my client (I work as an interior designer) was truly remarkable, and my client was overjoyed with the results. I appreciate her attention to detail and recommendations, and I can wholeheartedly endorse her work.

Tamara is amazing! Working with her was a delightful experience due to her exceptional skills and friendly demeanor. We are excited to unveil the magnificent nursery she has designed for us to our little one.

Working with Tamara was an absolute delight. She was able to replicate my exact vision and was open to all my suggestions and concepts. Her final version had impeccable attention to detail, resulting in a work of art. I wholeheartedly recommend Tamara to anyone in need.