Fabric Paint: A popular medium, great for customising your home

Fabric paint is fast becoming a great craft for many people. Amateur hobbyists and professional artists may want to expand their painting techniques onto surfaces other than the canvas or indeed paper. With new patterns and fashions emerging everyday people are desperate to keep up with trends. Some people may choose fabric paints because they want to customise their own items or create something completely unique, which is completely feasible within this medium. The ‘shabby chic' style is a popular interior choice for many. Customisation of accessories, curtains and items like cushions is immensely popular with the simple stencils and stamp designs available on the market today. Any reputable art supplier with have endless amounts of materials to fulfil your artistic pursuits. Fabric paints in particular need to be of good quality in order to keep your project on track.

There are different methods of fabric painting like dyeing, using silk screen methods, block printing and stencilling. The fabric paints available are also varied, from Indian inks to actual water-based fabric paint.  Each type creates a different effect on the textiles you are decorating, and as with every artistic pursuit it is all about experimentation and developing your skills within the medium. Various types of fabric can be utilised for painting like cotton, linen, silk and mixed fibre fabrics. There are traditionalists within the art world who say that it is done best on 100% pure tightly woven cotton. It is always best to double check the quality by sampling the fabric paint on a small part of the fabric before you embark upon your project or chosen design. Once you are happy with the effect you can apply your design.

Even if you are a beginner and have been hesitant to experiment you still have many options. You can choose to purchase a starter set for example, that usually comes with a sampler selection of paints and sometimes even fabrics. This allows you to experiment and try out techniques before you commit to buying a larger quantity. After finishing with your pattern or painting you can simply iron over the fabric to fix the paint. Of course, it is vital you make sure the fabric is dry before you do this. With good reputable brands you should still have vibrant colours and the paint should not fade. It is best to seek advice from a specialist art supplier because they will have great knowledge of their products and can potentially save you money and hassle by recommending something that suits your needs or style. 

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iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality <a href="http://iartsupplies.co.uk/craft-supplies-UK/">fabric paint</a> and other art supplies