Hi, I’m Emily White — a painter, muralist, and sculptor based in Philadelphia. I’ve lived in Philly for 13 years, and I’ve been painting murals for just as long. I moved here after college and was immediately struck by the city’s incredible public art and murals. I remember thinking, Wow, painting murals would be THE dream job!
After interning, spending years assisting other artists, and painting murals and working as a fine artist, I officially launched my business, White Knuckle Painting, in 2021. Most of my work now comes from private businesses. I’ve built my client base through word of mouth and connections I’ve made on Instagram, and I feel so lucky that doing what I love is my full-time job!
Unexpected Supplies Muralists Need
- Wagon – I'm thankful for this every time I use it! It saves me from making multiple trips between the car and the worksite. Just load everything in and pull it all at once. Bonus: it folds up for easy storage.
- Milk Crate – This might seem like an odd pick, but it’s one of my favorites. I use it to carry multiple quarts of paint or small supplies, and when flipped upside down, it doubles as a low stool. They are great for sitting or standing on.
- Kneeler – If you’re unfamiliar, kneelers are thick foam pads that you kneel (or sit) on while you work. It makes working on the ground so much easier on the knees or butt.
- Yellow “Delicate Surface” Frog Tape – This is the only masking tape I trust for crisp lines. I strongly prefer it to the green Frog Tape because it’s gentler on the surface, and it’s a lot thinner so there’s a less noticeable paint ridge after you peel it off. Pro tip: A trick a lot of people aren’t aware of is that you should wipe the edge of the tape with a damp rag before you paint. The moisture turns that dust (ever noticed how the inside of the frog tape containers are always dusty?) into a seal, preventing your paint from seeping under the tape.
- Blue Masking Tape – A great all-purpose tape for non-linework tasks. I use it to mask baseboards or railings to protect them from drips and to tape my reference images to the wall.
- Dog Poop Bags – This one might raise a few eyebrows, but trust me, they’re the perfect size for storing 4” rollers you plan to reuse later. Plus, as a bonus, they even come scented!
- Kneaded Eraser – Perfect for erasing guidelines and even removing scuffs from walls.
- Plastic Takeout Containers (with Lids) – These are lifesavers when I need to mix colors or pour off a smaller amount of paint from a gallon. Much easier than lugging the whole can around! They also double as paint water containers or containers to hold your smaller supplies.
- Can Opener – These tend to disappear, so I tie mine to something larger, like a pair of scissors or a big brush. I also keep a back-up paint can opener on my keychain – it’s thin enough for paint cans and has the bonus of doubling as a bottle opener.
- Earplugs – I don’t need them often, but when I do (like when working next to noisy contractors), they’re essential.
- Sandpaper – You never know when you’ll come across a dried drip of paint from a previous job that you don’t want to reflect poorly on you, or when you need to spackle over a distracting hole. A quick sand can smooth things out and make the final result look much more professional.
- String – I use string to draw perfect symmetrical curves. It’s not for every job, but when you need it, nothing else works (well, doubling tape up onto itself is a decent substitute in a pinch). Be sure the string doesn’t have any stretch. One time, I forgot my string and ended up using a shoelace from my sneaker! After that, I made sure to always keep a small spool in my work backpack.
- Libby App – This audiobook app is free if you have a public library card! I love it because a) it’s free, and b) you can download books to listen offline without WiFi. I personally enjoy listening to audiobooks while I work. It keeps my mind active while my hands do the hard work. Over time, I’ve started to associate the enjoyment of audiobooks with being productive, which makes me excited to get back to work. You can often catch me gasping at plot twists or surprising moments while painting on the job site! Bonus Tip: I keep extras of some small essentials in a zippered pouch in my backpack. That way, if I forget to pack something, I’m not stuck without it. My backup stash includes: kneaded erasers, string, earplugs, a can opener, chalk, scissors, razor blade, and sandpaper.
Go-To Brushes for Muralists
- Zibra Square Paintbrush
This is hands down my favorite Zibra brush (and in my top two favorite mural brushes ever!), and for good reason. The density of the bristles gives me just the right amount of control to keep a steady hand and paint perfectly straight lines. Plus, it holds more paint than other brushes, allowing for longer, smoother pulls. The bristles are stiff enough to give great control while remaining soft enough to spread out evenly across the surface, which helps fill in large areas quickly without leaving bristle marks. (Did I mention it doesn’t leave bristle marks?)
Another reason I love the square shape is that the corners are surprisingly versatile. You can “squish” the corner into tight spaces, eliminating the need to switch to a smaller brush — which saves time.
Quick story: I was working on a mural with an assistant, and I used the Zibra Square Paintbrush to fill a large area that tapered into a tiny point. My assistant told me, “You’ll probably need a smaller brush for that tip!” Instead, I twisted the Zibra brush slightly, used the corner to fill in the tip, and she just laughed and said, “…and that’s why you get paid more than me!”
This brush is a solid addition to my kit — especially for certain kinds of jobs. It holds significantly more paint than the Square brush (it might just win the “holds the most paint out of ANY brush” award!), which means you can get longer, smoother pulls without constantly reloading. That makes it especially useful for filling in large areas quickly.
The angled shape makes it ideal for painting both straight lines and curves, and the chiseled tip does a great job getting into corners. Like the Square brush, it doesn’t leave brush marks thanks to the softness of the bristles.
For coverage, clean lines, and versatility, this is a strong option — definitely one of my favorites in the Zibra lineup.
