Paul Ygartua
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PAUL YGARTUA · 49 ARTWORKS

Large-Scale Wall Murals

Paul Ygartua approaches a wall as a large canvas. His murals bring the spontaneity of his painting practice to an architectural scale, creating compositions designed to be experienced from a distance as well as up close.

Working freehand without a projected image, he considers the finished composition before beginning, balancing perspective, proportion and visual impact across the wall. This gallery documents mural projects and stages of their development, offering a view of the physical work and concentration involved in painting on this scale.

I like to approach the wall as if it were a large canvas. I want to experience the energy, the thrill of the challenge.

You need to see it in your mind’s eye to get the perspective, balance and correct proportions.

— Paul Ygartua

The challenge of scale

In his original account, Ygartua described walls ranging from 30 by 50 feet to 25 by 300 feet. Working at that scale is both a compositional challenge and a physical workout. He values the concentration and excitement of painting freehand, feeling that the freedom of the hand can bring something unexpected to the finished work.

Building wall with early mural outlines above the roofDAY 1 -- MAY 22, 2013 SHEARWATER MURAL --UNITED in HISTORYPencil outlines of portrait faces on a wallImage description: Pencil outlines of portrait faces on a wallPainter on a lift beside a partly coloured portrait muralImage description: Painter on a lift beside a partly coloured portrait muralLift positioned before outlined portraits on a wallDay 3 May 24, 2013 United In HistoryLift beside a partly completed mural of portrait figuresDay 10 May 31, 2013 United In HistoryWide building view with a completed portrait muralImage description: Wide building view with a completed portrait muralPortrait mural seen beneath an overhanging roofImage description: Portrait mural seen beneath an overhanging roofCompleted portrait mural across a long exterior wallImage description: Completed portrait mural across a long exterior wallLift below portrait outlines on a buildingImage description: Lift below portrait outlines on a buildingClose-up mural of musicians and brass instrumentsImage description: Close-up mural of musicians and brass instrumentsArtist standing beneath large portraits on a wallImage description: Artist standing beneath large portraits on a wallWall mural of hockey players in team uniformsImage description: Wall mural of hockey players in team uniformsScaffolding in front of three large portrait facesNative Mural in ChemainusCrowd gathered below a mural of children's facesUnited by Our Children - Ely Nevada MuralChildren's portrait mural above a gathered crowdImage description: Children's portrait mural above a gathered crowdArtist working beside a tall interior muralImage description: Artist working beside a tall interior muralChildren's faces across an American flag muralImage description: Children's faces across an American flag muralArtist on scaffolding beneath a domed ceiling paintingImage description: Artist on scaffolding beneath a domed ceiling paintingArtist working beneath a colourful domed ceilingImage description: Artist working beneath a colourful domed ceilingArtist standing beneath a painted domed ceilingImage description: Artist standing beneath a painted domed ceilingClose-up group of portrait faces in a muralImage description: Close-up group of portrait faces in a muralThree large faces behind scaffoldingNative Heritage mural by Paul YgartuaGroup portrait painting for the United Nations PavilionVancouver Expo 86 MuralAngular mural faces on a corrugated wallGehituzArtist standing beside a wall mural of angular facesMural in Basque Country by Paul YgartuaWide wall mural featuring famous portrait facesImage description: Wide wall mural featuring famous portrait facesArtist beside geometric mural figuresImage description: Artist beside geometric mural figuresWide geometric composition of figures and facesThe MonarchyArtist on a lift beside a large portrait muralBeachcomber MuralPeople standing before a black and white mask muralBeachcomber Mural by Paul YgartuaArtist beside a mural of carved mask formsNative SculptureArtist painting an outlined figure on a wallNative SculptorBuilding rooftop with a children's portrait muralUnited by Our Children - Ely, Nevada Mural by YgartuaDetail of children's faces on an exterior muralUnited by Our Children, Ely, Nevada MuralScaffolding before a large long-haired portraitChemainus MuralHockey players painted across an exterior wallOshawa Generals Mural by YgartuaArtist beside a forest muralThe Hermit - Chemainus Mural - Paul YgartuaMural portraits of a baseball player and boxerCassius Clay MuralLarge portrait faces across a blue exterior wallChief Dan George , Lady DiLong wall mural of portrait facesBeachcomber Mural