How to Paint Muslin Backgrounds

Muslin fabric is a great material to use for backgrounds or large mural paintings, as it is inexpensive and holds paint very well. You need a large area to paint the muslin background; it can be messy since the sheets are so large. The key is to mix the acrylic paint with a gel medium to ensure the paint adheres well with the muslin.

Things You'll Need

• Muslin sheet, of desired size (usually around 9-foot-squares)
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paint pan and roller
• Rags
• Sponges
• Gel medium
• Painting clothing
• Tarp

Instructions

1. Pick the area you want to paint the muslin on. Lay out the tarp and set up supplies close to your work area. Then, lay out the muslin background onto the tarp.

2. Pour the acrylic paint in the paint pan that you want as your base color. This depends upon what type of picture you are painting. Add the gel medium (to help make the paint adhere better). A good ratio is one part gel medium to two or three parts paint. Mix thoroughly.

3. Roll the paint roller into the paint pan, and cover the muslin fabric in it completely. After this is dry, it will become more hard and less flexible. If you wish for the muslin background to be more tight and sturdy, paint another layer of the base coat onto it. The more base coats you place on the muslin, the more the consistency will resemble a canvas.

4. Mix up different paints and add graphics, patterns, details, and designs. In different paint pans or buckets, mix other colors of acrylic paint with the gel medium. You can apply these details with paintbrushes, rollers, sponges, rags or other painting techniques and materials.

5. Experiment with different techniques with the muslin material, such as crinkling, folding or rubbing pieces together to create different effects for whatever picture you are trying to create.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with spray paint and other types of paint on the muslin cloth