Fabric paint

Jean Kelly · 09-18-2002, 12:44 AM

Years ago, I painted with oils exclusively. Due to necessity, I worked in the sewing machine industry for many years and began art quilting. This grew to painting my quilts before quilting and I had a satisfying career for many years. But I missed the painting, and a "quilted" portrait is pretty bizarre. So, I have a lot of fabric paint and really like working with it.

Now, finally for my question. Can this be regarded as a serious medium for a professional portrait artist? Evidently it has an acrylic base, is heavily pigmented, non-toxic, and mixed with other proprietary ingredients. Whatever the secret additions, the paint does not have the plastic look or feel of acrylic. There is no shine unless I add a specific medium to it. It's permanent and lightfast and I have had no problems with fading yet. (10 years) And if it gets dirty, Just throw it in the washer!!! Haha.

Seriously. I would appreciate your professional opinion. Please check out Meagan in "other media" for an example. Thank you for your consideration.

Margaret Port · 09-19-2002, 09:34 AM

Jean,

I'm curious to know if you can paint in layers with your fabric paint. The ones I've tried seem to be heavy on dye pigments but have little adhesion and much transparency when you overpaint.

You could be onto a whole new line here. Washable portraits! That's a good idea in the tropics where every surface gets mouldy in the wet season.

Jean Kelly · 09-19-2002, 03:01 PM

Margaret,

This is not the fabric paint that you find in craft stores, more like an ink that is very versatile. I get it from Dharma Trading in California. It can be thinned to a wash to change tone, or used thick and scumbled on like you would with oil. It must be used on a natural fiber that has been prepared for painting (PFD). This means no sizing, oils, or residue left on or in the fibers. The first layer of paint is almost srubbed on and into the fibers. I always start light and work into the darks with increasing intensity. I love this medium as I work with "intensity" and a heavy hand. I may easily end up with 20 layers of paint.

Please check out "My husband Tom" in acrylic and "Meagan" in other media for examples. I'm not sure where to post these as they are both.

For even more depth I often add pastel and paint into it with the ink. It must be heatset in a commercial dryer or by ironing (too much work) to make it washable or dry cleanable. There is also a paint on fix available now but I haven't tried it yet. This particular formulation doesn't have the plastc look or feel that so many others do.

Thanks for the interest, hope you try it, its truly fun stuff!