Painting Fabrics- Sunprinting

Sunprinting is a great excuse to do some plain air painting! Gather your paints on a sunny warm day and go outside. I generally paint on a plastic surface, so I can just spread out on any table.

Most washable paints will work with this technique. The best results will come when the paint dries the quickest and the item you use is in good contact with the wet paint. That said, you can do this inside overnight until the fabric dries but the result will be more hazy and less defined.

 All of the fabrics used are pima cotton and PDF. But you can use any washed non-textured fabric. Texture interferes with the printing results. The fabric above uses cheesecloth for it's print.

This fabric has a print using a section of rug mat. I over-sprayed with 2 different metallics while it was drying resulting in a slight diffused metallic spread. Metallics must be diluted when sprayed or they will clog your spray bottle. There are spray metallic paints available.

A simple toothpick print evokes a fence, bare trees in winter, or playful pick up sticks. Who remembers those?

Natural materials of all sorts can create wonderful prints and you're already outside after all!!
Sunprinting is part of my Fab Fabric Painting Workshop.