How2PaintWithAcrylics.com: 100 Portraits! Yikes!

I was recently commissioned to create a cieling mural for a new restaurant. This is not your average mural. The request was for 100 black and white portraits from the local schools yearbook. I was up for the task!

I purchased 2 X 4 foot panels of 1/8 inch MDF from the hardware store.
Using a table saw we cut 6 boards from each panel at 12 X 16 inches each.
Using Kilz primer and a small roller I primed all 100 with two coats including the sides (I suggest priming every surface of each board to prevent moisture from effecting the wood.
Once the boards have dried one coat of artists gesso should do well. A roller works best.
If you desire a very smooth surface you can use a light sandpaper between coats.

The first sight of all 100 boards stacked against my fireplace was terrifying. I didn't see how I was going to finish all of them in just 5 weeks. How daunting. I figured if I broke it up into groupings it would seem a little more reasonable. So I calculated about 3 a day to complete 21 per week. Now, not having completed any at this point - it was only a rough estimate.

Before I could begin painting I had to scan the yearbook photos and also the school photos of restaurant owners and employees. This meant 100 scans and 100 prints. To make it easy on myself and for speed I decided to transfer each image to the board instead of drawing them freehand. Freehand would have definately been beneficial to my drawing skills but with 100 there was not time for practice...I needed the drawing to be accurate immediately so that I could begin painting.

It took me one month, shy a few days, to complete the 100 acrylic portraits. I made really good time once I got organized and picked up speed. I was really happy that within a few days I was up to 4 or 5 a day. I had two really big days where I finished 6, then 7. Imagine my excitement and exhaustion. Here they are...