Fabric Painting with Irina Dias

Gloria Bastos is joined by Irina Dias of Brushstrokes Paint Studio and they’ll be exploring the many possibilities of fabric painting. First, Irina will show how to make a wall art hanging with a simple yet beautiful design and then later Gloria will try her hand at using fabric paints to decorate a plain apron.

Fabric Painted Blue Bottles

By Irina Dias

Brush Strokes

Requirements

  • Fabric
  • Fine black permanent marker
  • Fabric paint in various colours – Royal Blue, Navy Blue, White and Extender (clear)
  • Paint brushes: Nº 4 ; 6; 8  (hard bristles)
  • A patterned stencil

Instructions

  • Step 1: Wash and iron the fabric flat so there are no creases as this could affect the effect of the final painting.
  • Step 2: Transfer the design to the fabric using a fine black permanent marker.
  • Step 3:Mix the extender and royal blue for the base colour. Use navy blue to do the shading and do it gradually building your colour to give the illusion of roundness.
  • Step 4:On the lighter area, you can use a little more of the extender and you may add a little white paint too. The bowl:  paint the base colour with the royal blue mixed with extender but in this case use more navy blue to build your shading and roundness of the object.
  • Step 5:Use the stencil to decorate the bottle in white. You may add a little of the extender to the white and apply the colour very gently so that it gives the impression of being translucent.
  • Step 6:The grey bottle is done in the same manner as the blue, but using shades of the grey.

Fabric Painted Apron

By Irina Dias

Brush Strokes

Requirements

  • A blank apron in a colour of your choice
  • Fine black permanent marker
  • Fabric paints used: black, bright green, lime green, deep red, golden yellow, white, ochre, chocolate brown, dark brown, extender
  • Paint brushes: Nº 4 ; 6; 8  (hard bristles)

Instructions

  • Step 1:Wash the fabric and iron well, before you paint.
  • Step 2:Transfer the design on to the fabric with a black fine permanent marker. If you are going to silk screen the design onto the fabric do it before you start the fabric painting and allow it to dry completely. A charcoal grey colour looks great.
  • Step 3:
  • Pear
  • Paint a base layer using the white paint. If your paint is too thick, dab your brush in a little bit of extender as this will make it run more easily. You can add some shading on the white using ochre and build the colour gradually if necessary. Remember to blend the colours, for a softer look.
  • Step 4:Seeds Paint the seeds in a chocolate brown and use a darker brown for the shading. Where the light would naturally fall use a little bit of white to create the lighter areas. This must be done while the paint is still wet.
  • Step 5:Leaf – Paint the leaves in lime green and in the areas where you want a lighter colour use some extender as the base and some white as well, blending it into the green. Do the shading in bright green.
  • Step 6:Red Apple – paint the whole apple in golden yellow as your base colour and gradually apply the deep red while the yellow is wet to create the shape and shading. Use some white paint to create the lighter areas.
  • Step 7:Lemon – paint a base layer colour with extender and golden yellow, shade it by using some lime green and bright green for the darker areas. Use a little white to create the light areas. Allow the paint to dry completely, your apron is now ready to use.