How to Use Fabric As a Painting Canvas
Although many artists paint fabric with the intent of wearing it, you can use it just like a canvas and paint a masterpiece fit for the mantel. When it comes to using fabric, the most noticeable difference compared to painting on canvas is the pressure you'll need to use in your brush strokes; the paint needs to be pressed into the fabric to make it stick. You can buy specialized fabric paints, but most of these are designed to be washed and worn on T-shirts. If you plan to to hang your fabric artwork like a canvas, you can use any paint you like.
Things You'll Need
- Detergent without fabric softener
- Iron (or steamer)
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Clothespins
- Clean white rag
- Fabric stain remover
- Paint
- Artist's palette (or empty egg carton)
- Paintbrush(es)
Instructions
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Prepare Your Fabric
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1
Select fabric with a tight weave, such as cotton, velvet or silk. The tight weave will catch and hold paint, whereas a loose weave (like linen) might allow paint to slip through and stain the back of your artwork.
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2
Wash fabric according to manufacturer's care instructions. Do not use fabric softener---the chemicals in it will keep your paint from adhering.
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3
Remove any wrinkles with an iron or steamer. The fabric needs to be flat so your brush strokes will turn out smooth and straight.
Set up Your Work Station
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4
Create a backing for the fabric that will keep paint from soaking through (and damaging your work surface). Cut a piece of cardboard so that it fits behind your fabric. Hold the cardboard and fabric together with clothespins.
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5
Keep a clean white rag and fabric stain remover nearby. If you spill or splatter paint on your fabric, you can either paint over the mistake or dab the spot with stain remover and try to remove it. Use a clean white rag to gently blot the stain away, reapplying stain remover if necessary.
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Gather the right brush or brushes for the shapes you want to paint. A scrubber brush is good for a technique called stippling, where you press the end of the bristles against the fabric and then pull the brush back upward. A liner brush is good for thin, flowing, wavy lines. For covering lots of fabric easily, choose a flat shading brush.
Paint Your Masterpiece
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7
Squirt a dab of each color of paint you'll use onto a palette or into an empty egg carton.
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8
Dip the tip of your brush into the paint and press or stroke it against the fabric. You'll need to use a moderate amount of pressure to scrub the paint into the fabric.
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9
Let your fabric painting dry on a flat surface for 24 hours.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice your brush stroking techniques on a paper towel to get the hang of it.
Don't thin your paint with water. The thicker the paint, the easier it is to use the scrubbing technique necessary for painting on fabric.
