Exploring My Creative Process as a Muralist and Large-Scale Oil Painter

As a Cleveland artist who thrives on public art murals, commissioned pieces, and personal collections, my creative process is a journey that varies with each project’s soul.

In this post, I want to share how I approach different types of work, from community murals that tell a neighborhood’s story to personal commissions and my own introspective pieces.

My Community Mural Process: Connecting with the Heart of Community

When I dive into a public art mural, especially here in Cleveland, the process is all about community connection. Typically, an organization will approach me with a theme or initiative that resonates with a particular neighborhood.

My first step? Listening.

I hold roundtables, gather surveys, and talk to community leaders to ensure that the mural reflects the voices of the people who live there. I want them to feel seen and represented.

As a muralist, I see colors and symbols almost as soon as I hear their stories. My head floods with imagery that captures the emotions they want to convey. From there, I sketch, conceptualize, and use tools like Procreate to refine the design and color scheme. Each mural is a vibrant piece of Cleveland’s collective heartbeat.

Commissioned Art: Channeling Personal Energy onto Canvas

For private clients, my process is a bit more intimate. I always begin by asking, “How do you want to feel when you see this painting?”

From there, I dive into researching that person, whether that is watching interviews, reading articles, going through their social media and truly understanding their energy.

It’s a spiritual and energetic process, where I channel their essence into the artwork. This makes each commission deeply personal and truly unique.

Personal Collections:

The Solitude of Self-Exploration

When I’m creating for myself, it’s all about solitude and introspection. My “Inner Child” series, for example, comes from meditative moments where I explore emotions and memories from my own life.

I protect that creative flow fiercely, letting images come to me in stillness before I ever pick up a brush. This personal work is where I can fully express my own stories, free from outside influence.

The Role of Notation & Sketching in My Process

A huge part of how I manage my creativity is through notation. I’ve learned that getting all my creative ideas out of my head and onto paper (or into digital notes) helps me avoid overwhelm.

Notation gives me space to filter and organize those ideas, allowing the strongest ones to rise to the surface while releasing the ones that don’t make sense or no longer align with the vision.

It’s my way of clearing mental clutter so I can focus on what truly matters, and it’s become a cornerstone in both my personal and professional creative process.

In every piece I create, whether it’s a mural for a Cleveland neighborhood or a private commission, I start with sketches and allow myself the freedom to explore.

Each step is a layer of intention, building toward a final piece that’s filled with meaning and heart.

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Art has taught me that every idea, every stroke, and every silence in between has purpose.

It’s not always about having the perfect plan...it's about listening deeply, expressing truthfully, and honoring the evolution of the process.

So wherever you are on your own creative journey, I hope this gives you permission to slow down, take notes, explore freely, and let your unique vision unfold.

Stay the path. Trust the process. Paint the story.

-Stina