Painting a realistic Fish Mural
Painting a mural of a giant fish
How I found the mural painting project
Recently, Bobby sent me a message on Instagram, and commissioned me to paint a realistic fish mural within her home. Her husband runs a fish merchandise business, and she thought it would be the perfect gift for someone who has everything. This project felt like a little gift from the universe—in the ten days I'd booked to be in the UK, this mural was booked in the same village where my mum, stepdad, and Bobby the spaniel live. It allowed me both quality time with the family and a fun, creative outlet. It was so close by I even used a wheelbarrow to roll my paints and tools over—talk about local artist energy!
The project began with the client sending me some reference images of carp, and then I popped over to her beautiful home. Her husband, being in the fishing industry, had far more expertise than me—my own fish knowledge didn’t stretch far past cod or sea bass. So I really valued the chance to collaborate in person. This face-to-face session helped immensely: I was able to show them a few options I’d mocked up in Adobe Photoshop, and Marcus pointed out that carp tilt slightly downward. He chose two fish as our main references, setting the tone for a truly personalized wall mural painting.
The mural painting process
A few days later I returned, wheelbarrow in tow, filled with plastic sheeting to protect the carpet and high-quality tester pots. The room felt tiny after working on a 26-square-meter floral mural painting in New York! Like with many mural art projects, things didn’t go perfectly at first. I used the tape method to place the design on the wall—where you tape the surface and overlay the design in an app to make sure everything is perfectly positioned. But the wall had been painted very recently, and to my horror, the background paint peeled off with the tape.
I pivoted to the doodle method (less tidy but equally effective), where I doodle shapes onto the wall, snap a photo, and overlay the design in an app to guide the mural layout. I would’ve loved to use a projector, but mine was many miles away in New York. And while some may say projecting is cheating—I disagree. Sure, I could freehand the design, but a projector allows for more accuracy and leaves room for creativity during the painting process itself.
After that hiccup, everything flowed. I layered up the background first, always stepping back to check how the image was shaping up. Using layers of high-quality paint gives the work longevity. Unlike thin layers of spray paint, building up layers with durable wall paint ensures these painted wall murals last for years—especially if protected with a sealant like an anti-graffiti coat (though not suitable for this indoor project).
It was a pleasure working inside the client’s home—firstly, it was warm, which was wonderful after months of exterior mural paintings in chilly New York, and secondly, I was spoiled with coffee and great conversation. At one point, Marcus dropped in and mentioned he’d like the carp’s mouth open—an easy adjustment that made the piece feel even more personalized.
It was a pleasure working inside the client’s home—firstly, it was warm, which was wonderful after months of exterior mural paintings in chilly New York, and secondly, I was spoiled with coffee and great conversation. At one point, Marcus dropped in and mentioned he’d like the carp’s mouth open—an easy adjustment that made the piece feel even more personalized.
The final mural
After two days, the fish mural was complete. The clients were thrilled and left a glowing five-star review. It was a quick one, but an absolute joy.
Me with the final fish mural
If you're looking for local artists near you for custom mural paintings—whether it's a vibrant exterior, a calming nature scene, or a realistic animal like this carp—I'm always happy to chat. Whether it's a large-scale project or a detailed wall mural painting inside your home, I love bringing visions to life through painting mural art.
