Out of the many uses for tarps include use as a painting tarp. In an article published recently in GoSanAngelo.com about mural painter Stylle Read, titled “The Art of Big Art,” author Rick Smith writes briefly about the setup Read uses to create his murals, including tarps being used to protect the mural.
Tarps can be used a couple of ways in painting. In the case of this article, the tarps are tied to the scaffolding to protect the mural in progress from being damaged by the weather. This use of a tarp is a more common use, especially if the tarps in use are poly tarps. Much like a canopy used to protect a vehicle, these tarps in the article are tied to the scaffold in front of and surrounding the mural to protect the new paint from damage due to rain and sun exposure. In addition, tarps are used in a similar manner on construction sites to protect the building in progress and the workers.
Another use for tarps in painting is as a drop cloth. A drop cloth is usually used in painting the outside of a house or a room, although it can be used when painting a mural, as well, outdoors. The primary use of a drop cloth is to protect any furniture and to prevent paint from getting on the floor. While any poly tarp can be used as a drop cloth, the ideal tarp for use as a drop cloth is a canvas tarp. The benefits of a canvas tarp in painting include staying in place easier than a plastic or poly tarp, making this type of surface for painting less prone to slipping. This factor also makes a canvas tarp an ideal surface for covering when painting above a staircase. In addition, a cotton canvas tarp absorbs the paint, if any drips on it, making it ideal for protecting furniture, as well, as the paint won’t run off or seep through to the other side.
