There are a number of formulas, designs and concepts circulating for creative fabric design. Many of these teach folks how to duplicate designs that others have already made. For some that is a good starting point as they develop certain skills and techniques in fabric painting. For those who wish to be creative and original, the paint by pattern route can only serve as a springboard to creating their own designs for fabric painting.
A great start in this venture is to recognize the awesome talents of the artists you admire; perhaps there is something in their style that grabs you. Blending what you have seen with the influences from your surroundings and cultural background can be a positive springboard to your creative expression.
Notice I said blend or merging of styles and concepts. It's quite natural for artists to be influenced to some degree in their area of interest; however to be a copycat artist is not at all a flattering position to take. In fact it really should be shunned especially if there is any interest in developing as a serious artist. The majority of art lovers love what they love for the originality and uniqueness and generally do not indulge in purchasing wannabes's or counterfeits.
So where do you start? Well you'll be amazed to know that you have already begun. There is beauty all around you, much of what you see, wear and do will continue to be communicated through your designs. Familiarize yourself with the basic painting tools and techniques and experiment to see what they can do. It's absolutely amazing the textures, patterns and techniques you can develop with just items around your home.
What colors do you find impactful? Work with those initially. Are there any shapes or themes you are particularly drawn to? Then start designing with these; a design does not have to be busy or elaborate to be effective. In many cases it is the simplistic designs for fabric that people are drawn to.
Knowing the basics of fabric painting will enable you to work on different types of fabrics as well as exotic fabrics to create elegant and unique pieces. Your designs can then be applied to clothing, shoes, costumes, bed sheets, table mats, or you can even design custom fabrics to be produced for interiors, drapes and upholstery.
Keep in mind that fabrics being prepared for this kind of art should be paint friendly; a fabric that holds the paint and is not saturated with chemicals to cause a conflict between the two. Some fabric paints require heat-setting for the paint to properly adhere to the material. If the fabric had to be pre-washed to remove any chemicals or reduce the shrinkage, iron it to remove all wrinkles and creases.
Once your fabric is ready for painting you can begin working on your design. Perhaps the skin of wild animal or colorful frogs will inspire your colors and patterns. Remember, you can get your inspiration for lovely designs for fabric painting by simply looking around your environment, getting ideas online and most of all from within you.
Teri M. Bethel specializes in creating painted fabrics for designers as well as teaching do-it-yourselfers how to paint fabrics with texture. She is the designer of Teri Monique Handbags, a line of custom made art purses for ladies.
Visit us at: http://www.paintwithtexture.com/
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