How to paint and install a Polytab / Mural cloth Tutorial

[@mousydevilla]

I've never heard of this until now! Thank you so much for sharing and never gatekeeping info, resources, and your knowledge! You really don't know how much it means to an emerging muralist such as myself to be able to reference back to your videos if I need help with materials 🥺💖 Thank you!!

[@iamdetour]

I’m glad this can help out! It is definitely something that I think a lot of artist did not know about until now. I’ve used it for. A few projects, and it always works out great.

[@aannggiieess]

Same!

[@samanthagallagher5909]

Thank you so much for this informative and wonderfully done video! This is a great option for those of us living in cold climates who can’t work/paint outside when the weather isn’t cooperating!

[@iamdetour]

@@samanthagallagher5909 it definitely helps out a lot!

[@MicheleTheberge]

Great tutorial! Thanks! I just learned about this from a printmaker friend. Ordered some to try. It looks a little like the pellon I've been using in my installations and collage works so I'm curious to find out how it takes the paint. Your process is inspiring.

[@iamdetour]

Glad it was helpful! i think i sent your roll yesterday. cant wait for you to try it!

[@shayneswenson]

We have been using canvas applied this way for years inside some of our Eastern Orthodox churches. The technique is traditionally called “marouflage” and it’s been around for ages and ages. The only thing that’s changed here is the material that the support is made of. Great composition/info 🍻

[@suzannesumien7448]

Thank you so much! 👍🏻👏🙋‍♀️

[@alexisdambrosio5833]

This is AMAZING! 🙌🏻 As an oil painter/ portrait painter who is about to do their first "serious" mural, this makes me feel so much more capable & confident in taking it on. So, thank you. Also, your book is a gem. I'll definitely be sure to share it on my art therapy & artist social media soon. 💖

[@shervonne_arts]

That was wonderful. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@iamdetour]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@jubb1984]

These tutorials that you share are a invaluable source of inspiration to me =) Thanks for this! Looks like a really cool way to do murals.

[@iamdetour]

Thanks 1 million! I’m glad these videos have been helping out

[@andreametchick9925]

Thank you for all of this great information!!!! You are so generous…and talented. Ive been painting sets for shows…and this is a game changer for me!!!💖 peace

[@dagmonrabal7547]

MAN YOU ARE A TREASURE THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR YOUR KNOWLEDGE

[@iamdetour]

You are very welcome

[@Baddie_Long_Legs]

What do you do about the wrinkles in the Polytab? It wrinkles so easily.

[@paolabueso]

THANK YOU!!! This info is so incredibly useful!! It’s super kind of you to share it. Also, your work is absolutely stunning! 💖🙌🙌🙌

[@rachelkilbane4200]

Thanks so much for sharing this. Here in Ireland its super challenging to work outdoors with all kf the rain, even in the summer time!!! Any adhesive recommendations for exterior walls please, particularly with rougher plaster finish? Thanks a million, from Galway in the west of Ireland!

[@CAPUTO000]

great vid, beautiful art!

[@iamdetour]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@adamstephenson9011]

Hey, thanks for sharing the info! Hopefully I get a chance to use this in the workflow soon. Very cool.

[@zynzane9680]

Very cool. Hadn't heard of this before. Thanks.

[@iamdetour]

Glad to help. its a great material

[@ka8byrdie]

Love love this ! I don’t do muras ..yet👀👀 but I bet this fabric would be cool to use for so many things . I like to try all the things ❤ thank you and love your work !

[@iamdetour]

I use it for canvases as well. With the matte gel, it’s like a collage with painted canvas. I just added it to my online store for small-medium quantity purchases.

[@anonymousjedi7063]

Wow that's so rad! I never knew that existed

[@iamdetour]

🙌🙌🙌 glad you know now hopefully this will help out

[@skribbleskills]

Whoaaaa awesome! I've never even heard of this... I might have to give it a try!

[@iamdetour]

It definitely works out Great! I think you’ll really like it.

[@sailorlane7860]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!

[@bellaluce7088]

This was so helpful, thank you! Also, I like your work! : - )

[@robofurious]

Game changer!

[@Fluidtoons]

Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this

[@oletipatsankale]

Ur really educative thanks alot.

[@iamdetour]

My pleasure

[@Moorevisionunlimited]

Thank you 💯💥💥💥💥

[@andyherod653]

Video cuts off. But thank you! I’m going to try this

[@andyherod653]

Can you coat the piece in gel medium after you’re done?

[@mmedeuxchevaux]

I can't tell you how impressed by this video. Superbly presented tutorial and excellent artwork. I have a couple questions. Would I use gel medium for an exterior artwork? If not, what would you recommend? Also, how do you charge for your work? I have a giant mural I'm supposed to but I don't know what to charge.

[@bellaluce7088]

Could this be run through a home printer after the gesso dries to add outlines? If so it would be great for community-participation murals, especially for those with disabilities or other logistical challenges to working onsite.

[@iamdetour]

it possibly could but i think it needs a printer that can print with inks made for exterior uses if your using this outdoors.

[@cathycarr3525]

So with that coating that you use be for outside as well it appears that you said so in the video is this right? Durable outside?

[@cathycarr3525]

Can you use this Process outside and if not what would you recommend

[@carolinadelossantos3774]

Does extra heavy gel matte medium work? do you use a separate topcoat as it's label indicated not to be used as topcoat. Thanks!

[@Cuadrosa]

Super rad, I wonder what the longevity is like though.

[@iamdetour]

That’s what they use in Philadelphia. As long as you use protective coating, it should last as long as any other Miral.

[@timblighton6216]

I met Greta o f GoodSpace Murals, who uses poly tab on a number of their mural projects. You may not have enough time with this material to know, but their estimates for work included a twenty year guarantee. Do you know if that seems like a reasonable expectation for poly tab murals?

[@iamdetour]

I think 20 years is what many other murals in Philly have lasted and some have lasted longer. I think it is up to the maintenance of the mural, as well as environmental factors. Sun damage and weather damage, as well as building, aging as well can play a huge factor in the longevity of the mirror

[@timblighton6216]

@@iamdetour word! Thank you for the knowledge!

[@markg9178]

I'm considering this for a marsh exhibit mural with live animals. I usually do my animal murals on linoleum flooring. Is it safe for exterior applications and can it take a lot of abuse?

[@thehoneyeffect]

THANK YOU! Im in the UK, wondering where i can buy this??

[@iamdetour]

I'm pretty sure they can ship overseas. it may be expensive though.

[@leniacastro4830]

What is the duration compared with the actual paint?

[@iamdetour]

It was about the same time painting the actual piece but i was able to do it in my studio rather than on the job site. so it's all the extra time that would be needed to transport my art materials and setup at the job site every night. to do that takes a lot of time and energy especially when the site is in downtown location of a big city.

[@antoinettejones]

I love this idea but I’m just worried does it bulge from the wall? Or if the owner wants to cover it will the outline still be there? If not I definitely might try this

[@iamdetour]

It doesn’t when it’s on a smooth surface. When it’s on a rougher surface, it does tend to stand out a little, because the finishing texture is smoother than its surrounding, but on large scale pieces that cover the entire wall it is not noticeable. I just added it to my store on my website for people to purchase in small to medium quantities.

[@lindy256]

Fellow muralist here, super helpful video!! Quick question - it's been recommended to us that we only use Golden mural acrylics with polytab, but the bulk of our paints are latex house paints and Montana spray. I see you're using Behr samples here - do you know if, for an exterior project, it'd be ok to use exterior latex paint and say, 94 water based spray paint? We're just a bit paranoid about adhesion. Thanks so much!!

[@iamdetour]

You can use latex as well. If it’s exterior make sure you use high quality exterior latex house paints. You will be great with that. Golden are good but the behr marquee exterior works well. Als make sure you coat it as well. The the golden, liquitex, and nova color gel is what you can use for adhesive. Don’t be afraid to use a lot of it. The more the better. You want to make sure it sticks well.

[@olgard3589]

Thank you so much for sharing your process and knowledge! It is super helpful and encouraging for me to take up new materials and techniques. Question: which product on that website is the polytab you purchased? I looked through their product line and was't able to determine which one I need.

[@iamdetour]

So sorry for the late reply. I actually just added it to my website tools section to make it easier for Artists to get some. You can order it in small-medium quantities. Www.iamdetour.com

[@ChristopherCudworth]

I thought it was adhesive on its own. Is it just thinner than canvas?

[@iamdetour]

It’s thinner than the typical canvas that you get Pippi. It feels like slightly thicker paper that you would use in a printer. That is why it works well to blend in with other brushstrokes around it so that people can tell it’s not a part of the wall.

[@ChristopherCudworth]

@@iamdetour thank you. Btw: I may have a lead on a mural job that’s bigger than what I’ve ever done outside. Do you ever collab? It’s a $30k project and I’d “intern” for a part of the fee. Music based imagery on a high profile property im a Midwestern city. Actually possibly two different buildings.

[@ronneystevens9355]

👍🏾✊🏾🙏🏾

[@catinthekitchen]

you just saved my ass!!!!!

[@iamdetour]

👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@catinthekitchen]

@I am Detour is there a weight or name to the polytab...I opened the link but was overwhelmed

[@ShawnQuiQui57]

Question for the master: I have this client who basically wants me to replicate a hardware stores Paint swatch wall except on the outside wall so flip the wall inside out. Realism no artistic flair. So intricate and technical. Is that something you would do? How do I explain that is like a million lines, and colors for each little color swatch. It would take months. How do I break this to him? sad day for a muralist

[@life-rethought]

so this canvas is synthetic? I have worked on true canvas for interior works for decades... NOW my challenge is to do this on an exterior wall. I cant see the combination of mediums to be sturdy enough to adhere it to an exterior weather beaten wall to hold the piece in place.... I would see a true contractors adhesive being needed. and yes protective Matt finish clear coat after.???????????????????????????????????

[@kernyboydraws85]

dude! you are a gem! learning so much! can we be friends? lol

[@ellettcheyneArt]

My city has a 100k plus mural that was done this way and they never came back to fix the bubbles 🥲

[@natesbored]

Fantastic video, thanks!

[@iamdetour]

🙌🙌🙌