[FONT=”Comic Sans MS”]Martha Shaw
WetCanvas Fiber Arts Forum My Blog!
Creating artwork on a t-shirt using acrylic paints
Hello, and thanks for posting here Staci…as for using acrylic,I would not recommend it for your t-shirts as the paint would wash out when you launder the garment. There are paints made specifically for textiles and you should be able to mix to get the colors you want, just like you would with any kind of paint…someone else here on the forum might have a more detailed answer for you though, as I have had limited exposure to fabric paints. So yes, I think you will be able to get an answer in this forum as it is specifically for textiles.
Good luck with your t-shirt design.
Whatever you do, Do from the heart.
Col. 3:23
April 5, 2008 at 9:18 pm #1100075
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I used to use acrylic paints to paint t-shirts all the time. The cheap stuff from walmart will work just fine. They should have something called fabric medium to mix with the paints to make the paint more pliable. Just mix the two together and paint away. I think you have to heat set after it drys but I’m don’t remember. Have fun!
April 6, 2008 at 8:18 am #1100073
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I’m glad you posted Tammie…makes sense that there would be a medium to mix with it that would make it OK to use.
Whatever you do, Do from the heart.
Col. 3:23
April 18, 2008 at 8:13 pm #1100078
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I can second that–fabric medium is what you need and it will tell how to “set” the paint so it won’t wash out!
Debbie:heart:
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April 24, 2008 at 9:48 am #1100070
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I have a couple of friends who’ve done this for years and with great success! Go for it!
[FONT=”Comic Sans MS”]Martha Shaw
WetCanvas Fiber Arts Forum My Blog!
April 25, 2008 at 9:24 am #1100074
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As one who splashed her best tee shirt with acrylic paint, I can promise you it will NEVER wash out, with or without medium. But fabric medium makes the paint more pliable and gives it a nicer feel. Good luck!
April 28, 2008 at 5:06 pm #1100071
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Lots of inks and dye paints are availabe for fabrics nowadays that don’t require the addition of mediums and affect the hand of the fabric less than the acrylics (even when mixed with medium) I’m thinking Jacquard, Lumiere, Pebeo, Creatix–check out Dick Blick, Jerry’s Artarama, or some other online art supply dealer to investigate.
Maggie in SC
May 8, 2008 at 2:46 pm #1100079
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Hi Lead Bullet, My daughter used fabric paint on jeans quite a bit. She also use acrylic paint with the fabric medium mentioned by Tammie. She painted a couple jean jackets too. The paint does leave the jean fabric just a bit stiffer than the jean material itself, but it is very wareable. The fabric paint is washable. I am not sure how arylic paint would work on T-****s only because I am not aware if she painted any.
I just loaded a pair of her jeans on the acrylic section with the “Acrylic on Jeans” title and someone said I should show some of her work in this section. I will add a closer look on this pair of jeans here.
Good luck on your T- shirts.
My wife painted a cats paw w/ a brick background on the back of Kentucky Wildcats T’shirt. I love it.
May 18, 2008 at 2:02 pm #1100077
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I find acrylic paint watered down enough to sink into the fabric lasts forever. I’ve always used artist quality colours (not cheap stuff) as that is what I have on hand. Acrylic will add some stiffness to the fabric, though with time, that too can become soft to touch if it wasn’t laid on thick in the first place. Thick acrylic paint will crack, & peel and possibly flake off so if you stick with acrylic you need to get the consistency right.
Fabric paints can get you some very soft beautiful colours. Good quality will be so soft that after one washing you’ll barely be able to feel the difference.
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May 18, 2008 at 6:51 pm #1100076
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FWIW, I’ve always used plain old acrylic craft paint for my t shirts. Also Dick blick, Golden, watered down. I no longer use fabric medium as it made them too runny for me. Here’s one I did about three years ago, It’s white, washed many times with bleach, and it still looks okay. (just for jeans, anyway )
How to Soften Acrylic Paint on Fabric in 3 Easy Methods
We all love to use our creative skills and artistic insight on old clothes as it is one of the best ways to spend quality time during weekends. When the concern is about the artwork on fabric, acrylic paint is perfect for the innovative job. That’s why it’s key to learn how to soften acrylic paint on fabric.
Acrylic paint offers the brightest form of colors and is popular for its instant drying technology. They are quite affordable and less toxic; hence you can also work with them with pets and kids around. One can also use acrylic paint on any surface due to its oil and wax-free nature.
Similar to any other paint, acrylic paint also has pros and cons. As mentioned above, the instant drying nature of acrylic paint can be hazardous if you make any mistake while designing. Moreover, acrylic paint is also prone to cracks and can easily destroy your art session.
Are you geared up to do some interesting artwork on your old T-shirt this weekend? Softening acrylic paint is one of the best solutions to improve the paint’s composition and resist cracks post-application. Below we have mentioned some of the best tips and tricks on softening acrylic paint on fabric.
How to Soften Acrylic Paint on Fabric?
If you have experience working with acrylic paints in the past, you must be well aware of the fact they dry quickly. Moreover, using acrylic paint without softening on fabric will ensure that your old-sports T-shirt turns into cardboard.
So, it is important to dilute the acrylic paint with an acrylic medium to reduce the thickness of the acrylic paint. The acrylic medium maintains a smooth texture of paint on the fabric. Well, there are multiple ways to soften acrylic paint, but the two most preferred ways of softening acrylic paint on fabric are.
If you’re willing to learn the art of how to soften acrylic paint on fabric, then you can try any of the methods. I have explained all the methods below!
