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How to Transform Acrylic Paint into Fabric Paint without Medium
Are you struggling to find a way to make your acrylic paint work on fabric without the added expense and hassle of using a medium? . As a professional acrylic paint artist, I’ve worked on countless projects and faced the same challenges.
Today, I’m thrilled to share some game-changing secrets with you so you can unlock the full potential of acrylic paint on fabric without needing any medium. Get ready to revolutionize your creative projects!
Table of Contents
How To Transform Acrylic Paint Into Fabric Paint Without Medium?
To transform acrylic paint into fabric paint without a medium, you can try these five methods:
- Diluting with water
- Adding Glycerine
- Using white glue and shaving cream
- Incorporating fabric softener
- Blending with Aloe Vera Gel
Why Transform Acrylic Paint into Fabric Paint without medium?
As an artist, I’ve always been drawn to the versatility and vibrancy of acrylic paint. My creativity soared to heights when I discovered I could use it on fabrics. The idea of not using a medium to transform acrylic paint into fabric paint intrigued me, and I was determined to figure out how to make it work.
There are the following reasons why I decided to take on this challenge:
Cost efficiency
Acrylic paint is more affordable than fabric paint, and you may already have a collection of acrylic paints. Transforming acrylic paint into fabric paint allows you to make the most of your existing supplies without having to invest in new materials.
Customizable color palette
Acrylic paint comes in a wide range of creative colors, allowing you to create a unique and customizable color palette for your fabric projects. By transforming acrylic paint into fabric paint, you can create one-of-a-kind designs that stand out.
Increased flexibility in creative projects
Using acrylic paint on fabric offers increased flexibility for artists, as you can easily switch between paintings on various surfaces without purchasing different types of paint. This makes it an ideal option for those who enjoy working with multiple mediums.
Does acrylic paint stick to fabric?
Yes, acrylic paint, which is made up of pigments suspended in a synthetic acrylic polymer emulsion, sticks to fabric.
Its main advantages are that it is easy to use, dries quickly and can be applied to many materials: paper, canvas, cardboard, wood, glass and fabric. In addition, acrylic paint is available in an incredible variety of colors and effects (marble, relief, metallic, glitter).
Finally, if used correctly (see tips below), acrylic paint stays on fabric for a long time, making it an excellent choice for customizing clothes or linens.
Does acrylic paint hold up to washing?
Yes, if you have chosen or prepared the acrylic paint well as indicated below, then it holds up to washing. In fact, for machine washing, it is better not to program a wash above 40°C. Thus, the paint on your fabric will hold up in the wash.
For acrylic paint to hold on fabric, you have 2 choices:
- Apply a specific acrylic paint for textiles to the fabric that will attach easily to the textile fibers and hold over the long term;
- Mix a standard acrylic paint with a special medium so that it is more liquid and sticks to the fabric.
Here is one of the best fabric paint brands you can use to paint your jeans (see reviews on Amazon):
But so that the paint does not fade over time over time, here are my tips:
Essential steps for the paint to hold on the fabric
If you want the paint to stay on your fabric, you will have to follow the following steps:
- Before applying the acrylic paint to the garment, you must first wash the garment and once it is completely dry, iron the surface of the fabric well. This will make it easier for the paint to adhere and prevent it from cracking or peeling off the fabric over time.
- Place the surface of the fabric to be painted flat;
- Put a cardboard under the fabric to avoid overflows if the paint runs underneath;
- Test your design by pre-painting it on another piece of fabric before starting your project. This will give you an idea of how the painting will look and help you perfect your techniques;
- As soon as you are ready, you can use your stencil well fixed with a pin, paperclip, pliers or paint your design with a freehand brush;
- Pass 1 first coat and wait until it is dry to pass a second coat of paint. Thus, you will obtain a more covering effect on the fabric and a good opacity of the paint;
- Allow to dry for at least 24 hours then reapply a coat of paint if necessary;
- Once the paint is dry, you can use a sealant to protect the paint and give it a nice finish;
- When the painting is completely finished and dried, to fix it on the fabric, you will have to flatten it with an iron in cotton position. It will simply be necessary to put a sheet of parchment paper on the painted part so as not to burn it in contact with the iron.
4 key points to remember when painting on fabrics
As an artist i paint and draw on a variety of different fabric surfaces ranging from, denim, cotton, canvas, faux leather, faux suede, jute and t shirt materials.
I’m am forever being asked about how permanent the paint or pens are.
I use acrylic paints and paint pens so the answer to that is slightly different and depends on the following key points.
Permeant acrylics
Ive put this list together to help and guide budding artists wanting to paint on fabrics.
If you follow these points your projects are likely to last a for up to 40 washes. But I’ve experimented and still have T-shirt’s and denim jackets that haven’t faded for over a year.
Preparation
Preparation is key, alway make sure the surface your working on is clean and dry.
For denim pockets using masking tape frame the pocket for a clean crisp edge. At this point you can choose to apply a base coat of acrylic paint.
For jackets use a drawing board or thick card and stretch the jacket using fold back or bulldog clips.
For t shirts and cotton bags slightly stretch over a piece of card, using the card to create a barrier between the two layers of fabric.
For faux leather use and alcohol wipe to clean the surface before painting.
For shoes use masking tape to block off any area you don’t want the paint, remove laces and stuff the shoes with newspaper to keep the shape.
The surface your using is important as ultimately acrylic paint is permanent when dry as it sticks to the fibres of the fabrics.
On tightly woven non stretchy fabric like denim, canvas, jute and faux leather the paint will stick and stay permanent.
For stretchy fabrics like T-shirt’s and stretchy jeans this isn’t the case so acrylic paints and paint pens may fade or crack over time. This is where the mediums come into place.
