How to Paint a Drop Cloth

Single and multicolored drop cloths make good photography backdrops.

The traditional use for drop cloths is to protect furniture and floors during a paint job, but they make a good paint medium too. Hang painted drop cloths as murals, or use them as photography and theater backdrops. Made from sturdy canvas, a drop cloth will absorb liquid paints well to create the illusion of a pastoral scene, a night sky or a fantasy land.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Clothesline
• Painter's tape
• Pencil
• Projector
• Foam cup
• Sponge brushes
• Craft paint
• Foam plate
• Cotton cloth
• Measuring tape
• Hot glue
• Wooden dowel

Instructions

1. Sweep or clean the floor you will be working on. The area should be large enough to accommodate the drop cloth size. Pick an area that does not have a lot of foot traffic. If spray painting your cloth, hang it on a clothesline outdoors.

2. Tape down the edges of the drop cloth with painter's tape. This tape removes easily and does not leave glue residue behind. Taping down the cloth will keep it from moving when you paint it.

3. Draw the image on your drop cloth using a pencil. For complicated drawings, use a projector. Trace the projector image on to the drop cloth. Pin up the drop cloth on a large flat wall, then focus the lens of the projector on the cloth. Adjust the projector's magnification to make the image larger or smaller.

4. Pour craft paint into a large foam cup. Dip your dampened sponge brush in the paint. Paint the images, changing the paint colors and sponge brushes, as you need to.

5. Add some paint to a foam plate. Wad up a cotton paint cloth in your hand. Dip the wad into the paint. Press the cloth, in its wadded shape, onto the drop cloth. This method is good for creating a sky or interesting textured looks like marble.

6. Allow the paint to dry overnight. Remove the painter's tape.

7. Measure the top edge of the drop cloth and cut a wooden dowel to equal length. Hot glue the top of the cloth to the top of the wooden dowel. The wooden dowel should be on the underside of the fabric. Press down the material gently to adhere the drop cloth to the rod smoothly.

Tips & Warnings

• Store your painted cloth on a large wooden dowel or shower curtain rod.

• Do not wash or dry a painted drop cloth. This may wash away or wrinkle the image.

References

• Studio Lighting Net: Homemade Backdrops for Portrait Photography

Resources

• Charles Stewart: Backdrops and Scenic Design Glossary of Terms