How to Paint a Velvet Elvis

Velvet paintings have been around since the fourteenth century, finding their origins in the Far East, where it is believed, velvet-weaving first began. However, Edgar Leeteg was America's pre-eminent velvet artist and his work took off in the 1950s and continues to thrive to this day. The most popular velvet paintings focus on Elvis Presley as the subject. Until now, the secrets of velvet painting have been shrouded in mystery. Here's how you can paint your very own velvet Elvis.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Acquire the right kind of paint for your velvet Elvis. You need to use professional grade acrylic paint designed for use on fabric.

2. Know that velvet is a very difficult medium to paint on. If you are a die-hard fan of velvet, go ahead and try it. But, be aware that you can achieve similar results on easier fabrics like black cotton or silk, for example.

3. Purchase the fabric (velvet, silk or cotton). Be aware that a loose fabric weave will allow maximum penetration of color into the fibers.

4. Pre-wash new fabric. This will ensure that you eliminate any problems with sizing, which can cause the paint to loosen. If this happens, the paint will not hold firmly to the fabric.

5. Conduct a test on a small piece of the fabric to make sure the paint is compatible with your technique. All fabric absorbs paint differently, and this can determine the way that color spreads on it.

6. Be sure to protect the fabric and the work surface by inserting a piece of plastic, cardboard or parchment under the material while you paint. This will ensure that the fabric does not accidentally stick to the surface you are working on.

7. Make a velvet Elvis more beautiful by adding a nice heavy gel (medium gloss) to enhance the color of the portrait.