Make the Space Your Own
A mural can completely change the way a space feels.
I create original murals designed around the people who will live, learn, work, or gather there. Some begin with a client's idea. Others begin with a blank wall and a conversation about what the space could become.
Whether it's a child's room, a school, a business, or a community space, the goal is the same: to create something that feels like it belongs there.
Murals Designed for the People Who Use the Space
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Homes & Private Spaces
Turn a child's room, playroom, family space, or outdoor wall into something created especially for the people who live there. Your mural can begin with something you already imagine, or we can develop the idea together.
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Schools & Educational Spaces
Create a mural that reflects your school and the people who belong there. Projects can be artist-led or collaborative, with students participating in the ideas, design, and painting to create something they helped bring to life.
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Businesses & Community Spaces
Transform an ordinary wall into a place people notice and remember. Murals can reflect the identity, story, surroundings, or purpose of a business, organization, or community.
Imagine What Your Space Could Become
From Blank Wall to Mural
You don't need to have everything figured out before you contact me. A mural can begin with a clear idea, a few possibilities, or simply a wall you would love to transform.
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01 Tell Me About Your Space
We'll start with your wall, your ideas, and what you want the space to feel like. Photos, approximate dimensions, location, and anything you're already imagining will help us begin.
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02 Develop the Idea
I'll work with you to develop a mural concept that fits the space and the people who use it. We'll talk through the imagery, story, colors, and important details before the design is finalized.
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03 Plan the Project
Once the direction is approved, I'll plan the materials, preparation, schedule, and painting process so you know what to expect before work begins.
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04 Bring It to Life
This is when the wall begins to change. I prepare the surface, transfer the design, and paint the mural. For collaborative projects, students or community participants may also become part of the process.
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05 Finish & Protect
Once the painting is complete, I finish the mural appropriately for the space and leave you with artwork created specifically to belong there.
Make It a Mural They Can Help Create
Participation is completely optional. Every mural can be fully artist-painted, or children and students can be given a carefully planned way to take part in creating it.
At a school, students can learn about mural-making, contribute ideas, and take turns painting prepared areas while I lead the design and professional painting process. Depending on the project, students can also create sections on mural cloth that become part of the finished mural.
At home, a child can have a small, carefully planned part to paint in their own room or family space. I prepare and guide the process, so they get the experience of helping create their mural without parents having to manage the project or the mess.
There is something powerful about seeing your own contribution become part of something much bigger. Children get to watch their ideas and efforts become permanent, visible, and valued. It can build confidence, create a real sense of ownership, and show them that they are capable of helping bring an idea to life.
And even when no one else picks up a brush, watching a mural take shape can become part of the experience. A familiar wall changes day by day, people stop to look, conversations start, and the space begins to feel different before the mural is even finished.
Years later, they may still point to that wall and say, “I painted that part.”
What It's Like to Work Together
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"The mural projects with Martina have become a defining milestone that our students look forward to all year. Working alongside her brings out the absolute best in our 8th graders, giving them space to express themselves, build confidence, and take real pride in their school environment. Seeing their shared vision come to life on the walls leaves a lasting legacy that the entire community gets to enjoy."
Veronica Aquilar, Alianza Charter School Principal
/ collaborative mural -
“Martina is incredibly professional, collaborative, and easy to work with. She truly listens to what is being requested while also bringing her own creative ideas and thoughtful artistic perspective to the process. Her art beautifully reflects the community, and she is equally talented painting independently or thoughtfully incorporating students into the creative process when invited. Her work has been warmly received by students, staff, and families alike, and she consistently follows through while delivering beautiful final products within the timeline she commits to. She is wonderful to work with!”
Rebecca Taylor, Emery Elementary School Principal
/ artist-painted mural -
“Martina did a sensory path for the children’s patio area at the Aptos Branch Library. It was such a success that we asked her to create a mural to go with it. Together, they have transformed the space and made it much more fun and welcoming. It is exactly what we were looking for, and Martina couldn’t have been easier to work with, even making sure the work was ready for the start of Summer Reading.”
Gale Farthing
Chair, Aptos Library Friends
/ public-community mural
Meet the Artist Behind the Murals
I'm Martina Goulart, a professional artist, muralist, and teaching artist based in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
I create murals by first paying attention to the people who will live, learn, work, or play around them. I want the finished wall to feel like it belongs to that particular place, not like an image that could have been painted anywhere.
My experience working as both an artist and teaching artist also allows me to involve children and students in the process when that's right for the project, while I continue to lead the design and professional execution of the mural.
I want the process to feel creative, collaborative, and manageable from the beginning. You don't need to arrive with a finished idea. My job is to listen, develop the possibilities with you, and turn them into a mural that feels like it has always belonged in your space.
Based in the Bay Area. Available for Projects Beyond It.
I'm based in the Santa Cruz Mountains and create custom murals throughout Santa Cruz County, San Jose, the South Bay, and surrounding Bay Area communities.
I work with homes, schools, businesses, libraries, and community spaces.
Travel is also available for projects outside the Bay Area, with applicable travel expenses included in the project quote.
Questions About Your Mural Project
Do I need to know exactly what I want painted?
Not at all. Some clients come to me with a specific idea, while others simply know they want to transform a particular space.
We'll talk about the wall, the people who use the space, what matters to you, and what you want the mural to feel like. From there, I'll develop the concept with you before creating the final design.
What do you need from me to get started?
A few photos of the wall, approximate dimensions, the project location, and anything you'd like me to know about the space are enough to begin.
If you already have ideas, inspiration, or a budget in mind, include those too. You don't need to have everything figured out.
How much does a mural cost?
Every mural is different, so I provide a custom quote based on the size and condition of the wall, design complexity, preparation and access, materials, painting time, and the needs of the project.
If you have a budget in mind, that's helpful. I can work with you to determine what may be possible within it.
Collaborative school mural projects generally begin around $2,500, with final cost depending on the size of the project, number of participating students, and level of classroom and painting involvement.
How long does a mural take?
The timeline depends on the size and complexity of the mural, the condition and accessibility of the wall, and whether the project includes student or community participation.
Once we've developed the concept and I understand the space, I'll provide a project schedule so you know what to expect. Outdoor projects may also be affected by weather.
Can children, students, or community members help create the mural?
Yes. Participation is completely optional. Depending on the project, participants can contribute ideas and drawings, paint prepared areas, or create sections that become part of the finished mural.
I plan and guide the participation while continuing to lead the design and professional mural process.
Do you travel for mural projects?
Yes. I'm based in the Santa Cruz Mountains and work throughout the Bay Area, with travel available for projects beyond it. Applicable travel expenses are included in the project quote.
Do you paint indoor and outdoor murals?
Yes. I create both indoor and outdoor murals. Each project is evaluated individually so the wall preparation, materials, paint, and protective finish are appropriate for the location and surface.
Do you create murals for private homes?
Yes. I create custom murals for children's rooms, playrooms, family spaces, outdoor walls, and other areas of the home.
Each mural is designed specifically for the space and the people who live there. Children can also have a carefully planned opportunity to help create part of their mural if your family would enjoy that experience.