How to Paint a Photographic Backdrop With a Cloth Sponge
Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur seeking to produce professional-looking photos, you need a backdrop to make your pictures pop. Commercially made backdrops can cost hundreds of dollars -- a steep price to pay for an amateur's hobby or a professional's basic tools. Fortunately, you can make your own backdrop with a little canvas, some paint, a few sponges and a free afternoon.
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Instructions
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Buy a painter's drop cloth at your local paint or home-improvement store. You also can purchase muslin or canvas from an art or theatrical supply shop, but these will likely be more expensive. Whatever fabric you choose, look for a piece with no seams. Pick up some cloth sponges while you are at the store. You will need at least one sponge for each paint color.
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Purchase basic flat enamel paint in the colors that appeal to you. If you want to create a mottled effect, buy more than one color.
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Wash and dry the drop cloth; then lay it on the ground and tape it down at the corners to make a flat, stable painting surface. You may need to iron the cloth if it's too wrinkled to paint easily.
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Pour the paint onto a plastic palette or shallow pan. Soak the sponge and squeeze out the excess water. Press the sponge into the paint; then blot gently on a paper towel or newspaper to remove any excess paint. Press the sponge onto the drop cloth to create the desired effect. Try different shades of the same color family or neutral tones to achieve a tone-on-tone effect. Apply lighter colors over darker tones to create depth.
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Add more colors, using a separate sponge for each. Gently sponge on colors until you achieve the look you want. Sponge over the surface with a clean, damp cloth to create a mottled effect.
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Tips & Warnings
For a more rugged background, store your backdrops in a bag or box, so they get wrinkled.
For a cleaner look, iron your drop cloth before painting it; then store it neatly rolled or hanging to avoid wrinkles.
Don't layer on the paint too thickly, or it may crack when rolled.
