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Wall painting in Bali

Discover my series of wall paintings for Bali’s first CrossFit gym.

How did I work for Bali’s CrossFit gym?

In 2014 a CrossFit training center opened in Bali.
One month before the official opening, the owner contacted me to paint the walls of the health club.
After some meetings we decided to paint messages people would read while training. He chose a list of messages and I started to work on the typography.
Please note that the fitness center is still waiting for its trademark affiliation. I use the word CrossFit to keep things simple to understand.
Visit CrossFit website for more information.
The full name of the training center is Bali’s CrossFit and Movement Academy.

If it’s good for you, do it everyday. If it’s not good for you, just don’t do it.

Details of the wall painting I did for the CrossFit gym in Bali.

Why did I use sign painting typography in Bali?

I wanted my murals to stand apart from fitness stereotypes and pay tribute to classical sign painting.
Most training centers around the world display pictures of bodybuilders on their walls. I think that posters of protein powder are not the best way to design a CrossFit gym. So I decided to work on classic typography. I love how barber shops, old restaurants and ice cream vans would use hand-made typography to promote their space. Traditional sign painting billboards are beautiful and the classic font design is relevant today.
In Indonesia, people still promote their businesses with hand-painted billboards. Balinese often paint beautiful typography in the front of their shops or vehicles.
My love for letter design is not new. My 2012 solo exhibition already featured a lot of handmade typography.
Classic sign lettering was the main influence behind my wall painting of Bali’s CrossFit gym.

I’m getting wiser, smarter, stronger.

I painted all the lettering with acrylic and sprayed a thick varnish to protect the wall painting.

I love classic sign painting.

How do I work on a wall painting?

Learn more about the way I painted these walls:

1. I COLLECT IMAGES OF CLASSIC SIGN PAINTING:

   First, I collect images of old sign painting and handmade billboards.
   I will use the classic lettering as a starting point and a reference.

2. I WORK ON THE SKETCHES:

   With a better understanding of sign painting, I work on the lettering.

3. I SHOW MY DESIGN TO THE CLIENT:

   I show the result to the owner to make sure that the font design fits his needs.

4. I TRACE THE LETTERS:

   After approval I outline the designs on the walls.
   I draw the shape of the letters with a thin brush and for higher areas I stand on a scaffolding.

5. I FILL THE LETTERING:

   A week later, when I am happy with the outlines, I fill the letters.

6. I PROTECT THE WALL PAINTING:

   After I finish the wall painting, I apply a thick layer of protective paint with a compressor.

Wall painting is a satisfying but time-consuming process.
I took me about one month to paint the walls of the CrossFit gym.

I painted the menu following the tradition of handmade billboards and shop signs.

We start together. We help each other. We are a team. We finish together.

Do you need a lettering work?

I would be happy to work on you billboard, shop front, wall menu and other sign paintings.
Do not hesitate to drop me an email to explain me what you need. My studio is in Bali and often move around Asia. I also come back to Europe once a year so distance is not an issue. I can also only work on the wall design or the lettering and let you paint it.
Contact me and I am sure that we can find a way to work together.

Press the button bellow to send me an email:

EMAIL ME NOW

In the gym there is a wall you can climb to practice parkour.

I have spent a lot of hours to make sure that my wall painting would be clean and nice.

What is CrossFit?
Are there CrossFit trainings in Bali?

Greg Glassman founded a fitness company in 2000. He named CrossFit what quickly became a popular alternative to classic fitness.
CrossFit trainings incorporate many high-intensity exercises such as olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics, and more.
Today there are more than 9,000 affiliated gyms in the world.
In 2014 a CrossFit center opened in Bali. The space also teach free running and practical martial art, but strongly focusses on CrossFit fitness with two daily routines and trainings.
Professional teachers came from France where they already run a Crossfit gym in Paris.
Professional french teachers now offer safe and secure CrossFit trainings in Bali.

I also did a design for the poster of Bali’s CrossFit and Movement Academy.

Did you like my wall painting for the Bali CrossFit’s gym? Check my acrylic on canvas.