WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR [QUESTIONS]

 

After all, commissioning a mural is a big deal! We want you to feel comfortable from the beginning of the process to the end.

 
 
 
 

WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?

Custom, hand-painted artwork, murals, sculpture & thematic environments. Every piece we do is designed from scratch to meet your color scheme, subject matter, size, and style. Have your mural painted directly on the wall, or painted on canvas in our studio, and then installed like wallpaper. Canvas murals are removable and shippable. So, no matter where the wall is, we've got you covered! 

We offer the following services:

 
 
 
 

WHAT’S THE PROCESS OF GETTING CUSTOM ART & MURALS?

 
 

1. CONSULTATION & QUOTE

Since everything we do is custom, we typically start with a free consultation. If you’re in Greater Los Angeles, we’ll come to you! Otherwise, we’ll discuss over the phone or Zoom, and ask for your help gathering photos, measurements, and site details to get you a quote. 

During your consultation, we’ll discuss ideas for your custom artwork, take photos and dimensions, match colors, and assess any possible challenges or prep-work needed.

From here, we’ll provide you with a price range for the project. Since the work is custom, the price can vary considerably based on the size, level of detail, and amount of detail. Click here for more about pricing. This range will help you determine the appropriate budget for your project.

2. CONCEPT

If you already have a design, great! We’ll just get you a quote.

But if you simply have an idea in your head, or just a hint of inspiration, no worries … we got you! Our Design Team will work with you to develop a concept that’s perfect for you and your space! We consider everything from your decorating style, to color palette, to specific theme, to the vibe you want the artwork to convey. We can even incorporate specific personalized elements to make it truly your own. 

Of course, any ideas you have are a huge help, considering you are our muse! Click here to play our game Muse Cubes to unleash your inner artist! You can also see samples of our work by vibe, theme, color and style for more inspiration!

At this point, we’ll create a very rough concept sketch or description, and provide you with an initial estimate. We will create up to 2 quick concept sketches or descriptions at no charge. Any additional work is just $120/hour.

3. DESIGN PHASE

Once we’ve nailed the concept, we’ll ask for a 10% non-refundable deposit to proceed with the Design Phase.

The Design Phase allows us to flesh out the rough concept, so you can see a mockup of the final artwork, along with a mockup of the artwork in a photo of your space.

The deposit includes up to 2 designs, and up to two small tweaks. The 10% design deposit for each artwork will be deducted from the final cost of the corresponding artwork approved, which means the Design Phase is then free!

Deposits made toward artwork that are not approved are non-refundable, and are not considered payment toward other artwork that may be approved.

Any additional design work is $120/hour.

4. PRE-PRODUCTION

Once you’re happy with the design, we’ll request a 50% payment to get started.

Everything starts in our studio. Our Pre-Production Team prepares an execution plan, along with hand-mixed colors, design transfers, materials and equipment, so our Artists are ready to hit the ground running, and stay focused once the artwork commences. 

Depending on the wall’s surface, we may need to do some prep-work, including repairs, power-washing, sanding, priming and/or flat painting. The top coat is only as good as the base coat, so we want to start with a great “canvas.” 

5. CREATE CUSTOM ART

With everything prepped, our team of Artists get painting or sculpting!

Whether working in our studio on canvas, or working onsite directly on a wall, our Artists follow the design, work with your colors, and make mural magic! Our entire team communicates with you and with each other throughout the project, ensuring your piece is executed beautifully, accurately and on-time.

And if you haven’t heard, our team is proudly professional. We are clean, organized and polite … and we take deadline seriously! We’re also great at communication. If you’re not around for the creation, we’ll share photos with you to make sure you’re happy with the results. We can even capture video or time-lapse footage for personal use or branding efforts, to be shared once the project is completed.

That final 40% payment is due once the work is completed, and you’re 100% happy!

 

HOW MUCH DOES A MURAL COST?

Since all murals are one-of-a-kind, they don’t come with a generic price tag. That’s why we start with a consultation. This way, we can see the space, discuss ideas, and assess how much time and materials are needed to complete the work.

Like most contracted work, the cost comes down to time and materials. To determine how much time is needed, we consider many variables. The four most important are (1) the size of the wall; (2) the painting style; (3) design complexity; and (4) budget.


To illustrate how each of these affects time and cost, let’s use the Mona Lisa.

1. SIZE OF THE WALL

Murals come in all different sizes, from small-framed artworks to the sides of large buildings. Painting Mona Lisa in a small niche would probably take less time than painting her to fit the Los Angeles skyline.

2. PAINTING STYLE

The original Mona Lisa was painted in a realistic style. However, your mural is custom, so you can have her painted in any style you like. She could be more impressionistic, or painterly. She could even be graphic or abstract. Of course, a realistic piece would be more time-consuming than a loose, painterly style. And a simplified graphic look, or one-color silhouette, would be even faster … or in other words, less expensive. 

3. DESIGN COMPLEXITY

Design complexity refers to the amount of detail in the mural composition. For example, Mona Lisa by herself would be less complex than adding yourself next to her in the painting. Even more elaborate would be painting 18 Monas on the same wall. You could even add more intricacies, such as setting her in a menagerie filled with animals, giving her a bejeweled headdress, or adding a faux marble plaque with her life’s story “etched” into the “stone.” Simply put, the more elements and details in the design, the more time is needed to complete the piece. 

4. BUDGET

Let’s be realistic, you probably have a breaking point when it comes to cost. Since the design and mural are completely custom, the budget is often customizable, too. If you have a specific price point in mind, we can do our best to adjust the aforementioned variables to meet an agreeable price. In other words, if the cost is too high, we can (1) make the mural smaller; (2) choose a more simplistic painting style; (3) simplify the design, or (4) adjust some additional variables that may also affect the cost. 

5. ADDITIONAL VARIABLES

Though the size, style, design, and budget are the biggest determining factors of cost, there are still other components to consider. Some of these include (1) color scheme; (2) surface & texture; (3) accessibility & height; and (4) prep work and finishing work.

COLOR SCHEME: A painting with many colors may add extra time and materials versus a mural with only one or two colors.

SURFACE & TEXTURE: Murals can be painted on any surface, from walls and ceilings to floors and furniture and more. When considering cost, walls are typically the easiest and least time-consuming. And they are easier on the neck and knees!

Another thing to consider is the material and texture of the surface. Smooth walls tend to be easier to paint than rough ones and use less paint. Some surfaces require extra prep work, including unpainted or raw surfaces; along with slick surfaces, such as glass or metal. You’ve guessed it, extra prep work could mean extra time and cost.

ACCESSIBILITY & HEIGHT: Another factor that might add more time to a project is access to the wall. This could include objects in the way, such as immovable structures, furniture, or appliances. Accessibility might also be impaired at a busy construction site or in high-traffic public spaces. The ground is important, too. Is the ground at the foot of the wall hard and level? Or is it on a hill, or covered in plants, for example?

Another consideration is the height of the wall. A mural that can be painted on a small ladder will probably take less time than one that requires scaffolding or an electric lift. Scaffolding and lifts may also add additional set-up or rental costs. 

PREP WORK & FINISHING WORK: Some walls may need a little extra attention before starting a mural. If a wall is dirty, it may need to first be power washed. Cracks, holes, and chipping paint may need to be patched. And some walls may require priming and/or a base coat before starting the artwork. 

In some cases, a mural should be protected with a varnish or clear coat. We recommend adding a UV clear coat to murals that are outdoors, in public spaces, and in areas likely to get dirty/fingerprints or walls exposed to sunlight or moisture. If a mural is in a place that might get vandalized, we suggest an anti-graffiti coating. 

 

HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE A MURAL

The amount of time it takes to complete a mural depends on the mural. We know your schedule is important; so, we provide a time estimate before paint ever touches the wall. A typical 12’x9’ wall could take anywhere from 1-6 +/- days, depending on the amount of detail.

 
 

DO YOU PAINT ON WALLS OR CANVAS? HOW ABOUT OTHER SURFACES?

We can paint your mural either directly on your wall, or on durable, synthetic canvas.

1. Murals painted on canvas

Canvas murals are painted in the Hattas Public Murals studio and then delivered to your home/business. They are installed like giant pieces of wallpaper. Since the mural is painted off-site, it's very convenient for you. It takes only a few hours to hang the finished canvas. If you'd like to see the progress of the mural, we'll email you photos to keep you updated. The other advantage to having your mural painted on canvas is that you can have the mural taken down from the wall, should you decide to relocate, and reinstalled in your new space.  

2. Murals painted directly on the wall

Some murals, on the other hand, are best painted onsite. This would be best for some exterior murals, strangely shaped niches or walls, or simple "spot" murals (such as a few flowers or lettering painted throughout a room).

 
 

WHAT TYPE OF PAINT DO YOU USE?

For most murals, high-quality acrylic paint is used and guaranteed to last for many years without chipping or fading. This paint is very durable and can be washed with soap and water without being removed. If a mural is in a space with extreme temperature or humidity elements (such as kitchens, bathrooms, and exteriors), a clear protective coat is recommended as a final step. In some cases, oil paint or exterior paint may be used. This will depend on the project's needs.

 
 

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE MY WALLS FOR A MURAL?

To ensure a beautiful final work of art, the walls need to be free from holes, dents, dirt, or residue. If a mural or faux finish is being painted directly on the wall, the wall should have a clean coat of latex wall paint (the color and sheen can be determined before starting). In some cases, when a canvas mural is to be hung on the wall, the wall must first receive a coat of Pre-Wallcovering Primer (such as Roman Pro-935 sold at Sherwin Williams). We are happy to recommend a prep painter, should you need one.

 
 

HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY MURAL? HOW CAN I PREVENT GRAFFITI?

In many cases, we recommend a protective coating for your murals. A clear protective coating can help prevent UV damage/fading; water damage; and can help make the wall easier to clean. We can also add an anti-graffiti coating to help remove any possible tagging. Protective coatings are recommended for exterior walls, walls getting a lot of sun or moisture, walls in high-traffic areas, and walls in danger of getting dirty or marked up.

 
 

WILL YOU TRAVEL? CAN YOU SHIP MURALS?

We are happy to travel. While Greater Los Angeles, CA is the basis of our operation, we will travel almost anywhere. If we’re unable to meet on location, we can discuss your project over the phone or Zoom. In some cases, we may still be able to provide a design and rough estimate, we just ask that you send photos and measurements of your space. Traveling to paint on location (anywhere outside of Greater Los Angeles, CA), will incur travel costs, including travel time, mileage, airfare, lodging, and ME&I.

Alternatively, we can paint your mural on canvas, in our studio; and then ship it to your location. We’d be happy to help find a local installer/wallpaper hanger to install your mural.

Check out a map of murals we’ve painted over the past several years.

 
 

CAN YOU PAINT ANY SUBJECT AND ANY STYLE?

Yes! Hattas Studios specializes in 100% custom work, from portraits to animals, landscapes to cityscapes, and mythological scenes to religious images. If you can dream it, we can do it. We can also paint in any style - from realism to impressionism, abstract to modern, cubism to trompe l'oeil. If you have a favorite artist or style, we can make your artwork resemble your unique taste.

 
 

ARE YOU INSURED, LICENSED, AND BONDED?

Yes, all three. We are covered by general liability insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, auto insurance, and bond insurance. Our CA State License Number is 995544 (C-33 Painters License).

For more information, please email admin@hattas.com

 
 

ARE YOU IN COMPLIANCE WITH AB-5 LAW?

Yes. All of our artists are employees of Hattas Studios. And they are all covered by worker’s compensation insurance.

For more information, please email admin@hattas.com

 
 

WHAT TYPES OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?

We can accept checks, cash, and major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard).