Mural artist Sara Flores shows some recent projects from her portfolio. Flores charges a $100 consultation fee, which helps her pay for gas and the time she spends on sketches. Photos by Shelly Donahue/View.
Vegas Murals artist Sara Flores stands by one of the recent murals she custom designed for a client. Flores, a former art teacher, has been painting and accessorizing rooms for three years. Her designs range from realistic to cartoonish, and clients often ask her to base a design off a particular item they already have.
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Henderson resident Sara Flores hates wallpaper.
Instead, Flores prefers the unique murals and accessories she creates through her company, Vegas Murals.
"If you want your kid to have a really unique room, this is much better than putting up wallpaper," Flores said.
Flores, who originally moved to the Las Vegas area as an art teacher, has been painting and accessorizing rooms for the past three years.
"I decided mural painting was more fun," she said.
Flores' designs range from realistic to cartoonish, depending on the client's preference. Although Flores mainly paints children's rooms, she also has painted kitchens, restaurants and other adult rooms.
One billiards room called for Flores to paint the likeness of comedian George Carlin mixing a drink behind a bar.
Often, Flores' clients ask her to base designs off an item they already have, such as a blanket or a piece of furniture.
Las Vegas resident Mary Romano already had a safari-themed rug in mind for her son Vincent's room.
Flores worked with Romano to create a safari room, complete with zebras, elephants, giraffes and a tiger hiding in the bushes. She said the room was meant to have realistic-looking animals and required great detail. One family of zebras took her four hours to paint.
"It took about two weeks to complete," Flores said.
Romano said Vincent likes the design.
"It's definitely one (room) he will not be growing out of," she said.
Romano said she was so impressed that when she had another son, Nicholas, she asked Flores to paint that room, as well. Nicholas' room is a cartoon dinosaur room based on a quilt that Romano purchased from Pottery Barn Kids.
Now that Romano is expecting her third child, she is having Flores paint an airplane-themed room for Nicholas.
"I've always been so impressed. It pretty much turned into an addiction," Romano said.
Flores said she uses eggshell-based paints that are washable. If parents still are not confident that the paint is kid-proof, Flores said she will put a sealer over it.
Flores said she will work with any budget.
"I know that murals are more of a luxury item," she said. "You can easily spend $1,000 at a store. For the same amount of money they spend on that, they can get something original."
Flores said she charges a $100 consultation fee, which helps her pay for gas and the time she spends on sketches.
For people who are renting or plan to move, Flores also offers canvas pieces, some based on full murals that she has done.
"They're like a small version of my murals," she said.
Flores currently is working on her own infant daughter's mural. The theme is an undersea world.
Her goal for her daughter's room is the same one she has for all her clients.
"I want my daughter to wake up and think she's in a different place," Flores said.
Samples of Flores' work and more information can be found at VegasMurals.com.
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