BLOG - Stories Behind the Art

Learn a little more about the mural painting process.

  • Hear DETAILS about what clients asked for
  • and SEE what clients received
  • See before and after murals of both pictures and VIDEOS of murals in progress.

Portofino Italy Wall Mural

Portofino Italy Wall Mural in Progress

My client loves Portofino, Italy and asked me to paint a mural of this location on his wall, above his couch. He has wonderful memories of trips taken to Italy, but Portofino is his favorite spot. He already had several pictures hanging on his living room of this location, and thought a hand-painted mural of … Read more

Desert Wall Mural on Garage Door – Renovation

Damaged Mural with Peeling Paint

This picture is a close-up of a small part, of a desert scene wall mural that was painted on a wooden garage door over 20 years ago, by another artist. It’s in need of repair. Paint is peeling off in many places. The previous artist couldn’t be found, so I was commissioned to restore this … Read more

Hand-Painted Flower Mural in Powder Room

Hand-Painted Flower Mural

Have you ever wondered, how can I make my small powder room look nice? Flower murals on the walls of this powder room were hand-painted to compliment the pedestal sink and toilet. Since my client loved her custom fixtures we decided a hand-painted flower mural would really enhance the walls. We thought an asymmetrical layout … Read more

Custom Painted – Furniture Art

Custom Painted Furniture - Before Painting

Custom painted furniture is a way to add big personality to a small room. And there are so many different ways to paint on furniture. If you’ve grown bored of your current furniture a little paint could really change it up, and create a whole new feeling in your room. Newly purchased furniture can be … Read more

Hand Lettering on Walls – Painted Words

Bamboo Lettering Hand-Painted on Wall

Hand lettering on walls is a very precise art. Painted words need to be level and centered in order for it to look good. Choosing a font and an interesting layout is important, too. Fonts can also be created. See the words, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” ? The letters are painted in a made-up, bamboo … Read more

Custom Framed Word Art

Custom Word Art

Custom framed word art can decorate walls with a positive message. I personally value being surrounded by things that uplift me. And meaningful word art can be inspirational. Two of my friends had upcoming birthdays. Since they also believe in the power of words, what sort of gift should I get them? I decided to … Read more

Painted School Wall Quotes

Painted Quote - School Bathroom Wall Art

Motivate kids and decorate walls at the same time with hand-painted school wall quotes. I was hired to paint inspirational quotes in a bathroom at a elementary school. But before I painted, the principal and I had to decide on what quotes would be best. What are good quotes to paint on school walls? This … Read more

Painted Fitness Trail on School Playground

Painted School Playground - Fitness Trail

Painting a school playground with colorful markings looks inviting to children. And if those playground markings also inspire kids fitness, it’s even better. Can asphalt be painted? Yes! This colorful fitness trail was painted directly on the blacktop of an elementary school playground.   These days kids love their devices and often sit for long … Read more

Snake Maze – Painted Playground Games

Painted Playground Games - Creative Snake Maze

Kids love to play games especially at recess. Some school playgrounds don’t have any trees and are quite boring. Since recess time at school is often spent outside on a playground, it’s definitely more fun if school playground areas have colorful painted games on the asphalt. I hadn’t ever painted playground markings before. So when … Read more

Flowering Tree Mural with Gems

Flowering Tree with Gems

A flowering tree mural could be painted anywhere, but this one was painted in a playroom for an adorable girl. What sort of mural could we paint that would be enjoyed for many years? Sam, her mom and I brainstormed and then the idea came to us – A tree mural! Since kids often are … Read more

Empowering Words Painted on Wall in Bedroom

Painted Words on Wall

Although these empowering words were painted on a wall in a baby’s room, it could just as easily be painted in an older child, or teen bedroom. Words can motivate, inspire and empower us at any age. By viewing words regularly, we can absorb their meaning both consciously and subconsciously. This Mama wanted her daughter … Read more

Corporate Wall Art – Painted Logos on Walls

Business Logo Painted on Wall - Burbank, CA

Corporate wall art can be painted to match a company’s colors, mission statement, or office decor. And many businesses are enhanced by having their company logos painted directly on walls. Painted logos on walls of an office could be in a lobby, reception area, waiting room, conference room or boardroom. What sort of businesses would … Read more

Small Dog Big Adventures – A Memoir

Book - Author and Illustrator - Colette Stroffolino

If you love dogs, you’ll enjoy this easy-to-read, non-fiction book called Small Dog, Big Adventures: Meet Lucie – My First Pet Ever! Written and illustrated by muralist, Colette Stroffolino – me. Ever wondered what it would be like to take your dog to work with you? Yes I’m a little quirky. My little Chihuahua, Lucie … Read more

Dinosaur Mural in Small Bedroom – Video

Dinosaur Mural Video

Painting a mural in a small room can make it feel bigger.   Experience what it feels like to walk into a boys bedroom that has a dinosaur mural painted on the walls. Watch this video and see a dinosaur mural come alive in front of you. Here’s how commissioning a custom mural works. First … Read more

Timeless Castle Wall Mural – Video

Castle Wall Mural with Princess

This castle mural was painted in a baby nursery. My client wanted the mural to have a princess, horse and carriage, and castle, that would be timeless. I painted the mural in a soft, watercolor style.   The nursery color scheme is burgundy, deep green and dusty blue. A beautiful princess is dancing next to … Read more

Rainbow Mural in Small Bedroom – Video

Rainbow Mural

Painting a mural can make a small room appear larger! After driving to my client’s home I met briefly with Scarlett and her mom.   We went over the best room layout and a list of Scarlett’s favorite things.     What do little girls dream of? 4-year-old Scarlett wanted a rainbow, unicorn, mermaid, flowers … Read more

How to Paint Cement Stones – Video

Cement Painted to Look like Stones

Learn how to paint cement stones. As a muralist, sometimes I’m asked to paint interesting things on unusual surfaces. My client’s cement started having stress cracks near her pool area. She wanted to disguise these ugly cracks, as well as other cement patches. But, how do you make old cement look prettier?   We decided … Read more

Welcome to Outer Space – Video

Outer Space Bedroom Mural

Experience how it feels to walk into a room with a space mural painted on the ceiling and walls. I had the pleasure of custom painting an outer space bedroom for Oliver. Decorating an outer space themed room can be done in a variety of ways.   This is what my clients asked me to … Read more

Winnie the Pooh Wall Mural

Winnie the Pooh Wall Mural

Are you decorating a Winnie the Pooh themed baby nursery?   If so, you have to see this Winnie the Pooh wall mural. Painted characters look like they walked right out of a story book. Winnie the Pooh is sitting on a tree branch holding a honey pot.  Piglet is holding onto a balloon and … Read more

Outdoor Wall Mural – Casita de la Paz

Painted Bougainvillea Mural

This outdoor wall mural was painted on the wall of a guesthouse.   Painting an exterior wall can add color and create ambiance. My client wanted to make the patio area of her backyard more colorful and inviting. She also liked Moroccan doorways a lot. She had some fun ideas for a mural and called … Read more

Inspirational Tree Mural

Tree of Life Wall Mural

Inspirational wall art can help us feel good and stay motivated at work, school or home.   My wonderful client had a clever idea that combined her own personal style with words that inspire… and art. Since she loved the color red, she had one of her office walls already painted that color. Then, she … Read more

Painted End Table in Family Room

Colorful Hand-Painted End Table

A custom painted end table can add a lot of character to a room. My client purchased 2 old fashioned end tables with the purpose of refinishing them. She wants to add an element of fun to her family room and thought painting side tables with bright colors, would be the way to go. Since … Read more

Race Car Mural in Progress – Video

Race Car Mural

Thinking of getting a race car mural painted in your son’s bedroom? Watch this race car theme mural in progress. Video shows the whole mural process: the beginning rough sketch a chalk and pencil drawing on the wall the painted background and all the colorful details that make it complete   If you never had … Read more

Boys Room Wall Mural – Race Car, Sports, Space

Space Wall Mural

Get your son’s favorite things painted on his bedroom walls. This multi-themed wall mural was painted for a 4-year-old boy. His favorite things are: outer space and planets golf formula one race cars soccer Hmmm…I wonder how all of these different things can be incorporated into a mural? How can these different things be combined … Read more

How to Remove Old Contact Paper

How to Remove Contact Paper

Has anyone ever tried to remove old contact paper from a shelf? It can be really difficult to remove shelf paper that has been sticking for a long time. Since this contact paper was old, it was really brittle, and coming off in tiny pieces. I was getting frustrated because it was taking forever. Then … Read more

Strawberry Wall Border in Kitchen

Hand-Painted Kitchen Strawberry Border - Wall Mural

If you love strawberries, you’re going to love this custom painted strawberry wall border. I took pictures of the kitchen walls, before, during and after painting, so you can see the painting process. I had so much fun painting this strawberry wall border in Santa Clarita, CA.   My client had been wanting to do … Read more

Pink Butterfly Nursery

Pink Butterfly Mural

Butterflies painted on the walls of this baby nursery are adorable. These new parents wanted to keep their wall decor simple and  sweet for their first baby girl. I painted pink butterfly silhouettes. The butterflies look like they are flying in from the window. A few painted up on the ceiling add a nice touch! … Read more

Names Painted on Walls of Girl’s Bedrooms

Painted Name in Baby Nursery

Thinking of having your child’s name painted on the wall of their bedroom? Here are 10 different ways I painted names on walls for clients. Since sisters will share this room, my client wanted names painted both above a crib, and above a twin size bed. So I centered her girl’s names above where these … Read more