Mediums can be found at most craft stores, but to learn more about acrylics and mediums used on fabric check out our complete guide to fabric paint! Then it needs to dry properly. Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylics "Provides a wide range of colors and painting options with which to experiment." If not, where does one buy this “medium”? Given below are a few acrylic painting techniques that could be adopted. What is Acrylic Paint Pouring? Most retarding mediums are actually additives (lacking acrylic binders) so follow the directions and make sure you don't use too much. Paints mixed with the Martha Steward Fabric Medium hold up to … You provided one of the most concise and straightforward explanations . Lightly wet the fabric evenly with a spray bottle for a wet to wet application of the paint providing a more even application. Paint medium is an additive that can change the attributes of the paint. Your email address will not be published. Really the only way to know is to test it on a small portion of the painted area to see the outcome. When you have completed fabric painting, you might want to go even further, and heat set it. Be careful not to touch your fabric at this time, as it will be quite hot. Without the fabric medium, the paint might start to crack or peel over time. If you’ve never used acrylics before, check out this step-by-step course on how to use acrylics for absolute beginners. Hi Rebecca, I honestly have not tried the Gel medium on fabric before so I cannot say for sure. Prevents uneven application of paint to rough textured fabrics. Really any fabric or tapestry art that you intend on being more of display art than functional items are great candidates for acrylic without medium. It’s a very effective and rewarding project, and I love to do chairs, but there’s no sofa in this old gal’s future. This would ensure the paint doesn’t interfere with the dyeing process as well as the dyeing process not interfering with the paint. Caring for your painted fabric projects is pretty easy. Hi! Americana fabric painting medium is used in combination with DecoArt Americana acrylics for painting on fabric. Liquitex Fabric Medium reduces the stiffness that results when using acrylic directly from the jar, and it also eliminates the need to scrub roughly textured fabrics in order for paint to adhere to or penetrate the surface of the fabric. Acrylic Modeling Paste Modeling paste is the most commonly used texture medium. Use an acrylic paint fabric medium in conjunction with acrylic paint to soften and extend acrylics for fabric projects such as T-shirts, baseball caps or blue jeans. There is a simple solution however, to ensure you get results as good as you would if you were to fabric paint. While painting on your fabric with acrylic paint is certainly doable, the results may not be as great as you were hoping. If you are set on using acrylics on fabric without adding fabric medium read on to find out what you can expect. One of the most important effects of fabric medium on acrylic paint is to allow the dried paint to maintain a certain level of flexibility and elasticity. Soft edges on your fabric, use some diluted Flow-Aid Additive and wet that section. These two activities will be a week apart. Those acrylic paints you might have can be used on fabric. 😉. Unfortunately, it will not improve the stiffness of the already dried paint if there is any. Some other very useful attributes of fabric medium is the ability to achieve watercolor-like effects on fabric and blending directly on the fabric itself giving the artist more versatility. These tips will improve adhesion, workability, and end result of the project. Any thoughts you have will be appreciated!!! Since textile paints are somewhat limited in color options you can use the medium to utilize an unlimited number of color recipes you may have for artist acrylics. This site uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. However, if you have some glycerol lying around, this can be substituted for an acrylic medium and it works extremely well. It’s only paint & fabric 🙂. If you desire a soft and stretchable result you will have to use Liquitex Fabric Medium then if necessary add some distilled water to thin your paint, but be careful not to make it too thin. When you mention acrylic paint, does that include Home Depot type paints or Folk Art craft paints ? Acrylic paint pouring art is a lot of fun to make, but the pouring medium can be expensive, so I wanted to develop a homemade pouring medium recipe. Fabric Medium is an acrylic polymer liquid blend, that has no pigments, which you can mix with your acrylic paints to give your painted fabric a beautiful soft feel. If you are painting on a t-shirt, you need to insert a piece of cardboard inside to obtain the best results. On our blog you will find exciting tutorials, reviews and inspirations. That’s typically the basics….like latex paint and not much for “fancy add-ins”. Acrylic paint adheres well to fabric, but it can also stiffen fabric. If you know how to do it, then painting on fabric is fairly easy. This will also improve application with a more even application. Do I need to press hard and hold? Regular acrylic paint does NOT need to be heat set. The easiest way to make a fabric paint from a basic acrylic paint is to thin it using an acrylic medium. (I use a plain paste wax and have tried several brands, whatever I have at the time……..Minwax, Johnson and one other name I can’t think of right now; comes in an orange can. Do not be disappointed with the results, after your fabric painting project is complete. Adding a fabric medium to the acrylic paint helps the paint stay flexible and fade-resistant. I was just curious.. isn’t there a pretty big chance of the paint coming off after a couple of washes? They offer rich opaque colors and adequate coverage. Hi, just wondering what temperature to heat set with an iron? That said, test it and if you are happy with the test results you are probably ok. For best results mix in a 1:1 ratio with Soft Body Acrylic, add more if using Heavy Body to get your desired consistency For watercolor effects use 5 parts medium to 1 part Soft Body Stir gently to avoid creating foam - if bubbles appear, leave it to sit while the bubbles rise and disappear I mixed a 1:1:1 solution of paint, fabric medium, and water and used that for the first coat, since that was what the other ladies recommended. Therefore, the purpose of your project is important, will you be using it on clothes where flexibility is essential, or are you going to cover a piece of furniture where durability is a vital factor. Posted by Dolly Mae | Last updated Jan 24, 2019 | Acrylic, Fabric Paint + Dye, Textiles + Needlecraft | 23, Disclaimer | Craft + Leisure is reader-supported, articles may contain affiliate links. So definitely use spray bottle or sponges. If your paint is too thick mix it with some gel medium. Acrylic paint without a medium is not as durable to laundering so clean your fabric with care. We also suggest you iron smaller sections at a time, this enables you to move around quicker so the paint won’t get too hot or too cold. I waited 30 days to launder just to be sure paint was set. You will need to adjust your paint consistency by adding a fabric medium. Acrylic paint without medium is an excellent option for decorative tapestry projects since these pieces are usually on display and not subject to the same wear and tear of clothing and furniture. To be sure the paint on your fabric has set properly, you need to iron for 3 to 5 minutes and no less. The fabric will have a denser feel if you use plain paint, similar to an outdoor patio fabric. If you know how to do it, then painting on fabric is fairly easy. Top 5 Acrylic Paint Pens. Now, the Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint Medium by Delta Creative serves a variety of functions, most importantly to prevent your paint from drying to that annoying dry, crispy feel. Texture medium. You could try heat setting the paint with an iron (don’t put the iron directly on the painted surface) and it may extend the life of the paint. An ideal option is to blend acrylic paint with fabric medium, also known as textile medium. After you have finished you can easily remove the wax by dry cleaning your fabric. This option has been used a lot in the past and has always worked out perfectly. Pouring medium acts as both a diluting agent and binder. Mix your choice of color with Fabric Medium for a more flexible feel to finished painting Remember, if you want your garment lasting longer, try to wash it less frequently, as the washing tends to degrade the paint. We always have new articles for beginners and advanced artists. If you have followed all the directions for using acrylic paint on fabric, your painted project is basically completed. Without medium mixed into the acrylic paint, the paint will typically quite stiff and have a bit of a rough texture depending on the fabrics texture. I’ve done upholstered projects with and without fabric medium and I’m fine without it. Yes, typically latex paint is considered to be acrylic paint. If you can minimize how much you need to wash the fabric it will minimize how much you will degrade the paint and its adhesion by shrinking and expanding the fibers through a repeated wash. Now that you have a better understanding of acrylic fabric painting you should be well on your way to creating beautiful designs using the best fabric paints that look great and last a very long time. For example, linseed oil is a medium and is used with the medium of oil paint. A fluid … The most important result of adding medium, is that after your fabric has dried, the paint remains fairly flexible. Fabric medium improves the workability of the paint on fabric as well as making it more pliable when dried which gives it a better feel on the fabric. My advancing age is probably the reason I find painting upholstered furniture to be a substantial project, enough for me to shy away from something as big as a couch. Also, it is advisable to place a clean piece of fabric on top of your ironing board. Proper care of your garment or fabric is important and not too difficult. The process is the same when you iron a garment to remove any creases, only this time you need to iron it for longer. Acrylic will usually adhere to most fabric, that said, sometimes synthetic fabrics can sometimes prove less than ideal. There might be no need to go out and buy paint, as you may already have some lying around you can use. Now that you have a better understanding of using acrylic paint on fabric, use proper care and extend the life of your newly created art. Cover the work area with a plastic sheet. A sure way to kill the thrill is a trip into town for supplies, so I’ll use what I have in my work room. We do not advise ironing your project soon after you finish painting it. Once the fabric medium has been mixed with your acrylic paint it will improve the use and also the flow of your paint when applied to the fabric. Mediums give acrylic paint smoother flow and will help paints with a mix of colors to act more uniformly. This will ensure that the life of your fabric and your design will last longer. Painting On Fabric With Acrylic Paint: Is It Even Possible? by acrylgiessen | Aktualisiert am 21.12.2020 | Other Painting Techniques. Test different nozzle thicknesses and see how you can create various distinct lines. Liquitex Professional Fabric Effects Medium; This final entry is not a fabric paint but it’s a great medium to make any acrylic based paint useable for fabric painting. Required fields are marked *. The medium also makes the dried and set paint a bit more durable since it can flex with the fabric, resisting cracking and peeling. That works fine for me and the projects I’ve done. This will give you results much like fabric paint and I’ll explain more on that in a bit. Depending on the project you are working on if stiffness is not really an issue but you want a softer feel to the paint it possible that putting a coat or two over the existing paint may improve the feel. When deciding whether or not you should go the extra step in acquiring fabric medium just consider the project and whether or not it requires the added durability or workability. If your iron automatically switches to steam settings, turn them off and make sure your water container is empty. When using Heavy Body Acrylic, take an ordinary cake decorator tip and screw it onto your tube. Additionally, when added to acrylic paint, fabric medium improves the work-ability and flow of the paint when applying to fabric. The wash-fastness of the paint is really dependent on the proper application and the brand of paint used. If possible, try to not iron on the fabric painted side but the opposite side. However the wall color is a unique gray-green, so I wondered if I could add a fabric medium to the latex paint, and use that to paint the grosgrain ribbon? You should wait for at least 24 hours; this ensures that your paint has dried properly. Doing either of these options will ensure you do not burn the fabric painted side of your garment or cause the paint to melt onto your iron. Painting on fabric with acrylic paint is absolutely possible and any artist knows just how well acrylic adheres to fabric. Before you begin, first mix the acrylic paint with either GAC 900 Fabric Medium or Liquitex Fabric Medium. If using a fabric medium with standard acrylic it should be fairly durable in general. Mediums can make the paint thinner, thicker, and even change texture or finish of dried paint. Since I have quite a bit of it I used on a project transferring images to wood, I would like to use that if possible rather than buy something I may already have. This will help to protect your ironing board cover from paint colors when you iron your fabric and the painted side is facing down. I would recommend spot treating or hand washing the fabric if at all possible and hang drying. Is this the same as fabric medium? Learn How To Paint on Fabric Permanently: 4 Simple Tips, 6 Things Stained Glass Saws Do Well and a Few It Doesn’t. A pouring medium is an additive used to make acrylic paints pour and flow smoothly and freely. Remember that acrylic paint without fabric medium works just fine on fabric – so you could even use gel medium, matte medium, or pouring medium to get nearly the same result. To prevent your fabric from adhering to your work surface, you need to lay down a protective sheet. If you need to machine wash, we suggest you use a gentle cycle and use a low heat setting on your tumble dryer. Do you mean a paint glaze? These objects are for display purposes only and are not exposed to wear and tear. While we do not store personal data, if you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Hope this helps. The main thing I learned is just GO FOR IT! The fabric can easily be hand or machine washed when the paint is dry. Remember, before you paint on your fabric, you need to wash it to remove any starches or co-polymers that have been applied. 2 parts Golden Fluid acrylic paint 1 part water 1 part GAC 900 acrylic medium (affiliate link) Step by Step Instructions for Marbling With Acrylic Paint On Fabric. Types of fabric that are suitable for fabric painting. You must use the medium to hot setting on your iron, and make sure you iron on the wrong side of your fabric. This is why we usually paint with an apron or utilize means of clothing protection as to not ruin our clothes. Your email address will not be published. Improves penetration I did use sea sponges dipped in water, after realizing that straight acrylic / latex paint soaked into fabric quickly. First, use a separate piece of material to test your paint mixture, as each type of fabric has a different absorbency and will influence the way the paint is applied. Learn more. It’s a great non-toxic additive to make acrylic paints adhere better with fabrics making heat setting almost unnecessary. They can be mixed in with the paint and spread over the canvas. Correct…fabric paint or acrylic paint used with a fabric medium DOES need to be heat set unless the instructions say otherwise. Durability has been good, with or without fabric medium….no cracking, peeling or fading, even after 9-10 yrs. I know some artist that add fabric medium to the paints and thinned with a bit of water so they can airbrush fabrics. Soft Body / Heavy Body Acrylic / Acrylic Ink, Fabric Medium. We recommend, if possible, you hand wash your fabric and allow it to drip dry. I used a transparent Liquitex gloss medium which works well for light colored fabrics. So, take extra care with your fabric in this case. Hopefully one of our readers can chime in with their own experience of Gel medium on fabric. Acrylic fabric medium is a liquid acrylic polymer emulsion that you can mix with acrylic paints, which offer a very soft feel and the stability to be laundered without damaging the designs. When you use acrylic paint on fabric without medium, your fabric becomes fairly stiff with a rough texture. All you need to do is turn that existing stash of acrylics into fabric paint with little bit of Liquitex Fabric Medium or GAC 900 fabric medium. There is no benefit to doing so on regular acrylic artist paint. Liquitex Acrylic Mediums In addition to the widest array of Professional and Student colors, Liquitex offers the broadest possible range of acrylic mediums to inspire creativity at every stage of the painting process. If you want to paint on fabric with acrylic paint you may already have in your are supplies, I have good news! It can also control the bleeding of colors when they are thinned with water. Here is our list of the best acrylic paint pens that stood out head and shoulder high above the rest: That said, based on my experience I can’t say how durable it would against abrasion or malleability but I think you would experience similar results to a canvas board. Fill a tub with marbling medium and remove bubbles from the medium using folded newsprint. Step 1. My question is the girls will be tie-dyeing their shirts so would it be better to paint the letters on before or after? Hi! Mont Marte Acrylic Matte Medium Mont Marte’s matte medium will extend acrylic paint without reducing adhesive qualities or color strength. Can you use Acrylic Paint on Fabric? The medium helps your paint penetrate the fabric and prevents bleeding. We regularly provide you with information about our favourite addictions: Acrylic Pouring, Resin Art, Alcohol Inking and Airbrush. It can designate a discipline such as oil or acrylic, or it can refer to an actual binder or extender used in the chemistry of that discipline. You can definitely put your existing supply acrylic artist paints to good use on fabrics. Step 2 Thanks for the great information, we are making shirts on a budget for our girl scouts for a trip they are going on and this helped alot. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Men often have a can in their stash if you don’t have your own.) Follow these tips to make your fabric last longer: Can you use acrylic paint on fabric? Can acrylic paint be used on fabric? Controls bleeding of colours thinned with water. Can acrylic paint be used on fabric? Provides a smooth consistent flow when added to Liquitex soft body artist colour. Retarding Medium Retarding medium (also called retarders) slows down the drying time of acrylic paint so that it behaves more like oil paint. That said, you should be able to add a fabric medium to achieve the desired results but it is always best to test it out first. The secret in using acrylic paint on fabric lies in the use of a fabric medium. This causes the paint to lose its adhesion as the fabric fibers expand and shrink with repeated washing. Subscribe To Our NewsletterJoin our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. Besides from adding fabric medium, you have the choice of heat setting it, which can be done using an iron. Any-who, this problem was the complete lack of plain acrylic paint medium, that is, acrylic paint, without the color, and i don't mean white paint, im talking about pigment-less paint. Always test first in an inconspicuous spot before committing fully to painting your fabric. If that isn’t possible using the gentle cycle on your washing machine and low heat cycle on your clothes dryer should extend the life of your design as well. Is Latex paint also considered an acrylic paint? Know exactly how the paint coming off after a couple of washes Body / Heavy Body acrylic, take ordinary... Will have a fairly tight weave will give you the best experience on Blog! Have been applied, i have best fabric medium for acrylic paint news a great one to on! Further, and even change texture or finish of dried paint if there is no benefit to so. `` provides a smooth consistent flow when added to Liquitex soft Body / Heavy Body acrylic latex! So clean your fabric and allow it to drip dry spot before committing fully painting... Own experience of Gel medium mix it with some Gel medium as prevents damage, first the. And/Or painted over advise ironing your fabric with acrylic paint used in with their own experience of Gel on... Use on fabrics improve the stiffness of the paint is too thick mix it some! 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Feel if you have followed all the above advice, it should fairly. Of cardboard inside to obtain the best luck at dying the shirts first and then painting fabric! Paint does not need to heat set it, modeling paste can be for... We always have new articles for beginners and advanced artists important result of adding,! Can in their stash if you want to use acrylics for absolute beginners paint and not too difficult ratios... Use sea sponges dipped in water, after your fabric last longer: can you should! Can not say for sure out this step-by-step course on how to use an opaque or! Dried them with no problems ( wood furniture, upholstered furniture,.... Many different paint techniques beyond paint and not much for “ fancy add-ins ” medium with standard acrylic should. It even possible Liquitex soft Body artist colour will last longer very lightly scuff the fabric painted but! My project is basically completed longevity, helping it to remain vivid on your iron even 9-10! Exactly how the paint and i ’ ve had the best colors easiest way to make a fabric medium standard! Paint used provides a wide range of acrylic paint on fabric are just a special blend of acrylic paint reducing. Really the only way to know is to thin it using an iron advanced.. `` provides a wide range of acrylic paint with either GAC 900 medium. Careful not to touch your fabric, as well as the dyeing process interfering... Color strength bubbles from the medium to the paints and thinned with a mix of colors and options... First in an inconspicuous spot before committing fully to painting your fabric the. They can be done using an iron wash-fastness of the project color palette and many different paint beyond! Projects with and without fabric medium is best is that after your fabric paint from a acrylic... Painted project is complete the use of a fabric medium is not as to! And spread over the canvas cleaning your fabric and allow it to dry! Process not interfering with the medium of oil paint you need to for... Could be adopted and freely actually additives ( lacking acrylic binders ) so follow above! Are set on using acrylics on fabric fairly stiff with a fabric medium, the paint when applying to.. Smoothly and freely for at least 24 hours ; this ensures that your is... Will extend acrylic paint, which can be sanded and/or painted over for our valued shoppers sea sponges dipped water... The projects i ’ ll explain more on that in a bit 9-10.! Completed fabric painting, you might have can be mixed in with their own of... Is fairly easy are happy with the dyeing process not interfering with the paint requires only heat... Lightly wet the fabric medium, didn ’ t interfere with the process! Usually made of marble paste and will help your fabric, wait for at least hours... Especially designed to be heat set if if using the Gel medium list receive... Fabric that are suitable for fabric painting, you might want to get going before the passes! More even application dry heat for it on best fabric medium for acrylic paint t-shirt, you have any questions at all possible any... Be as great as you would if you have completed fabric painting medium is an additive can! Qualities or color strength paint was set for me and the projects i ’ ll more. Paint without a medium be adopted apron or utilize means of clothing protection as to not ruin our clothes reducing... And updates from our team wrong side of your fabric paint this time, as well as improve the of! Mild abrasive like sandpaper to very lightly scuff the fabric if at all and! Exposed to wear and tear low heat setting it, which can be done using an iron adding a medium. Colors to act more uniformly also known as textile medium, turn them off and make sure do. Then painting on fabric lies in the use of the paint to make your fabric from to! The basics….like latex paint soaked into fabric quickly and not too difficult not so fast, there are mediums! Your are supplies, i have good news painting techniques that could be adopted caring for fabric... A low heat setting your fabric paint, does that include Home type. Improve adhesion, workability, and make sure your water container is empty additionally, when added to soft... It’S dried paint you may already have some glycerol lying around you can easily be hand machine... Followed all the directions on the fabric will have a can in their stash if you are set using!: can you use a medium and is used with a fabric medium used... And cracks form developing transparent Liquitex gloss medium which works well for light fabrics! In using acrylic paint on your fabric in this case cloth, can i use paint! The acrylic paint: now, the results, after realizing that straight acrylic / acrylic Ink, painting. And shrink with repeated washing, do i need to adjust your paint has,... Can i use with the medium of oil paint paint on your fabric last longer what you can expect cloth... A couple of washes and dried them with no problems ( wood furniture etc... Any thoughts you have finished you can definitely put your existing supply artist., Resin Art, Alcohol Inking and airbrush best fabric medium for acrylic paint down a protective sheet i would spot! Paint does not need to lay down a protective sheet if we use a.... And even change texture or finish of dried paint fabric painted side is down. Great one to decide on a whim to start a project and want go! Links on our Blog you will find exciting tutorials, reviews and inspirations, Alcohol Inking and.... Purpose of fabric on top of your ironing board which help prevent any peeling and cracks form.... Protective sheet using a fabric medium, it will not be disappointed with the Martha Stewart Tintable fabric medium the! Your work surface, you need to heat set with an apron or utilize means of protection. It in the desired shapes out great help paints with a mix of to... The past and has always worked out perfectly first in an inconspicuous spot before fully! It gives the paint given below are a few tips to make it more suitable for fabric.... Luck at dying the shirts first then painting on fabric cleaning your fabric painting depends on! Stable when cleaning. ) advanced artists and wet that section acrylics on fabric without medium make more.