We recently had a client reach out for a unique mural in their house. Not only was the mural unique, in that we settled on a rabbit-Otomi inspired piece, but the house itself is unique as well.
The historic home had lost a bit of its once grand luster and the owner decided that the perfect place to start to restore that shine was in the grand staircase that was central to the house. It boasts 18-foot ceilings from the lower landing, revealing the upstairs. A fresh pop of color was needed, something that could focus attention and lead the owner up and down the stairs. Lucky for them we love color and the challenge of a unique space.
The Inspiration
We didn’t have a ton to go off with this project, but that was ok, we like it when clients let us guide a little bit. Our client said that they really liked rabbits and that they wanted it to tie into their Mexican heritage. Our first thought was to go with a rabbit inspired Otomi patterned mural on the walls. They loved it right off the bat, no changes even! That’s the best kind of project, and we were off to the races.
It wasn't hard to find inspiration in the clients direction.
First, a Brief History of Otomi
Otomi patterns are a traditional form of Mexican textile art, which have gained popularity in recent years, making this design both trendy and cognizant of the heritage. The vibrant and colorful embroideries feature intricate designs inspired by nature and indigenous culture, and are often used in clothing, accessories, and home décor.
The history of Otomi embroidery dates to the pre-Columbian era, when the Otomi people of central Mexico used the technique to decorate textiles for ceremonies and special events. The patterns mainly depict natural elements, as well as cultural symbols and motifs.
The Otomi People have long been known for their beautiful colors and textile patterns. (Photo: Maunus)
Today, Otomi patterns can be found in a range of styles and mediums, from hand-embroidered textiles to machine-printed fabrics and digital art. People love them for their bright colors, intricate designs, and cultural significance. You can find them in retail and domestic settings, often used to add a touch of traditional Mexican flavor to modern designs.
Whether you're looking to decorate your home, add a pop of color to your wardrobe, or simply appreciate the beauty of traditional art forms, Otomi patterns are a great choice. Whether hand-stitched or printed, these eye-catching designs are sure to bring a touch of Mexican culture and beauty to any setting.
Getting Started with Stencils
The project was unique in a couple ways. First, it was about three hours from home base (did we mention we can travel), meaning that we had to pack everything in the car and we wouldn’t have a ton of prep time on site. The second issue was that we didn't know if we would be able to reliably project the pattern in the space and we didn’t have time to do stencils there.
The solution we came up with was to produce the stencils at home. Now we don’t have 18-foot walls in our current home base studio, like the clients space, so we had to project the design in sections and then cut the stencil there. When we got to the site and started putting up the stencils, we realized how good of an idea this was as they went up easily and we were ready to paint in little time.
First Layers and Video
Our client had the room painted a light butter color which was going to jive nicely with the Candy Pink Otomi pattern we had planned for the first layers. By the end of Day 1 we had all our stencils up and the first layers complete on the wall on the top of the staircase.
By the end of Day 2 we had first layers up on the wall leading up the grand staircase and had started our detailing process.
Finishing Up
On Day 3 we finished everything up. One of our favorite parts was at the end, taping off the rabbits and then giving them fun stripes. The whole thing took about three solid days of painting, not including the base color. It certainly turned out to be a fun and colorful mural and our client absolutely loves it. She even had a small party to show it off to some of her best friends.
We love transforming old and unique spaces into something magical that people love showing off. It’s like living in a new environment. If you have a space that is in need of a new pop of color please reach out to us today.
The view standing on top of the staircase looking downward.
The wall at the top of the stairs matching it's counterpart on the opposite wall.