How to make drawings on a T-shirt with acrylic paints: acrylic painting master class

May 31, 2019
Family
Natalia Penchkovskaya

Painting T-shirts with acrylic is a fun and creative activity. Not every fashionista can sew a unique and stylish outfit for herself, but absolutely anyone can independently apply a design to clothes using acrylic paints. This is a water-dispersed coating based on polyacrylate polymers, which are esters of acrylic acid. Why use acrylic paints for drawings on a T-shirt?

They will not flow after washing, like gouache ones, and will not harden into a hard crust, like oil ones. It is convenient to apply them to fabric, since if a mistake is made, the line can be washed off with water, and after drying, a new one can be drawn. It looks bright on the finished product and does not crack when bent or washed. Handmade masters use them for painting on any surface - plastic and ceramics, metal and wood, fabric and leather, glass, etc.

In this article we will look at how to create colorful and unique designs on T-shirts using acrylic paints, and how to do such work accurately and reliably. You will learn how to apply a design to fabric, what available tools craftsmen use, and how to cope with the work if you do not have artistic abilities. After reading the step-by-step instructions for performing this type of work, any novice fabric artist can complete the task. If you get the hang of it and learn how to create beautiful things with your own hands, such art can be turned into a profitable business.

How to use paints

Acrylic paints for drawings on a T-shirt are not purchased at construction paint and varnish stores. You can buy them in the craft department or sewing supply stores. These are small jars of different colors, so you can choose the desired shade to decorate things. You can make it lighter or darker by simply mixing it with white or black paint.

Acrylic paints for drawings on a T-shirt can be diluted with water, but immediately after the procedure do not rush to apply it to the fabric, as excess liquid can cause the paint to spread and ruin the picture. It is advisable to have a piece of cardboard on hand for blotting the brush. To compose several colors of the desired shade, it is most convenient to use a plastic palette.

If the paint is too thick, it is diluted with water. The same procedure is also performed if the drawing should be translucent.

Choosing the right fabric for painting

If you give advice on choosing paint for fabric for beginners, then you should immediately note that there are no restrictions on the material for painting with acrylic. You can paint any materials: thick textiles, popular denim, delicate silk, thick cotton or linen. When choosing, you should not forget that the areas painted with acrylic paint will have a dense structure.

Typically, manufacturers of acrylic paints for fabric indicate the recommended type of fabric on the stickers of tubes and jars:

If the label contains the inscription “Silk,” this means the pigment is intended for dyeing soft and thin fabrics, such as silk, cambric, and chiffon.
The designation “Textile” means that this type of acrylic fabric paint is recommended for painting dense materials, natural leather, velvet, and suede. Dyeing the fabric will be easy. It is enough to use the necessary means.

Thick fabrics can be painted well with acrylic using a template or stencil. In this case, the design will have clear boundaries with a pronounced color print. Anyone can learn how to paint clothes with acrylic paints. To do this, it is not necessary to have special artistic training.

In craft stores and art stores you can find ready-made stencils and templates with floral designs, animal figures, geometric prints and many other images.

Necessary materials for drawing

Before you make a drawing with acrylic paints on a T-shirt, prepare all the necessary materials so that in the middle of the work you do not have to run to the store for the missing element. First of all, choose a drawing you like on the Internet or draw it yourself on a separate sheet. Depending on the color scheme, purchase acrylic paints in the desired colors. They usually paint on fabric with a brush made of natural hairs. Prepare several pieces of different widths just in case.

Depending on your desire, choose a T-shirt without a pattern. It can be with short or long sleeves, of any style, the main thing is that the space for the design is sufficient and clean. The only general requirement for T-shirts for applying acrylic designs is that they must be made from natural cotton fabric.

Some artists make an acrylic print on a T-shirt by mixing paint with decoupage glue. It is believed that when these two chemicals are combined, the result is a more flexible mixture that does not crack after drying or washing, and the item will last longer. However, most artists apply the drawing with pure acrylic paints, without combining them with anything.

You will also need a palette, a natural napkin for blotting the brush, a hand towel, a piece of thick cardboard, a jar of water for diluting paint or for washing brushes. The contours of the future picture are drawn either with simple chalk, sharpened on one side, or with a pastel pencil.

Making a sketch

For a novice master, we can advise you to choose the simplest drawing and practice on children's things, for example, depict a cartoon flower with five round or oval petals, or a mushroom with a red cap. First, practice drawing a sketch on a piece of paper, then transfer the outlines to fabric, and paint over the design with acrylic on a T-shirt.

If you don’t know how to redraw even simple drawings, don’t worry, you can always reglaze the image. To do this, print the selected design of the required size on a printer, place the sheet under a layer of an ironed T-shirt. Place it on a glass surface and illuminate it from below with a table lamp. The design will be clearly visible, and its contours can easily be redrawn onto the fabric. For example, for a girl, you can draw the character from your favorite Disney cartoon, Ponochka, and then just color it with paints, following the example in the photograph of a duck.

Types of painting

There are the following techniques for painting with acrylic on fabric:

hot and cold batik;

free painting (with and without saline solution);

shibori or folded batik;

knotted batik.

Painting on a T-shirt with acrylic paints: master class

It is recommended to wash the T-shirt before starting creative work. Some manufacturers coat new items with a special adhesive, which will prevent the dyes from penetrating into the threads of the fabric, and the design will quickly be erased. Be sure to iron the fabric so that the surface of the future image is smooth. Lay the T-shirt on the table, insert a sheet of cardboard or thick paper inside so that the paint does not stain the back of the item. You can pin him down so he doesn't fidget back and forth. It is advisable to stretch the T-shirt fabric slightly, but do not overdo it so that the design does not become deformed later.

First of all, transfer the contours of the selected image onto the fabric. In the sample below you can see that beautiful flowers are painted on the T-shirt. To make such a drawing carefully, first draw the lines of the stem with chalk, then circles of flowers and leaves. Also mark with dots the places of the cores of each flower and the central line of the green leaf.

Next, dip the brush into the chosen base color. In our case, it is light lilac. Draw all the petals, leaving a void in the center. Use a soft green tint to paint the outlines of the leaves. Before painting further on the T-shirt with acrylic paints, let the bottom layer dry thoroughly. Thin strokes of a darker color are applied with a thin brush. If a drawing requires several colors, then you need to wait until all the previous ones dry, and only then proceed further.

What to consider in your work

Regardless of the technique used to apply acrylic dyes, several points should be taken into account:

diluting acrylic with water reduces its adhesion to fabric fibers. Therefore, it is worth using branded thinners;
an impermeable base is placed under the surface to be painted to protect the working surface;
for work, brushes with synthetic bristles, a roller, and sponges are used;
Stencil designs require several layers of paint. Each subsequent layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried. For better quality painting, it is recommended to fix each layer of paint;
fix the dye 24 hours after coating using an iron. The design is covered with cotton cloth and ironed for at least 5 minutes;
First of all, light tones of paint are applied and then each layer will be darker;
Before starting work, be sure to read the instructions for using the dye from this manufacturer.

If all these requirements are met, patterns are obtained that do not rub off during washing.

use of acrylic paints on fabric: painting on crepe satin

Using glue

If you want to make your drawing more elastic and durable, take the advice of experienced craftsmen and add decoupage glue to acrylic paints. The proportions are 2 to 1, that is, for 2 parts of this glue you need to put 1 part of the paint of the selected color. It is believed that this connection will make the texture of the fabric more resistant to creases, the paint on the folds will not crumble and crumble, and the fabric will be dyed more evenly. In addition, the structure of the paint becomes flexible, and the fabric will not be “wooden” after drying.

Pin a picture

You already know how to make your own designs on T-shirts using acrylic paints. However, for the picture to be of high quality, the image needs to be mounted correctly. Most craftsmen leave the T-shirt for a long period to dry naturally. Some speed up the process by drying in dryers, ovens or even microwaves. But here it is important not to overdry the item so that the paint does not melt. If you are not in a hurry, then it is best to wait until the drawing dries itself, and then strengthen the picture with an iron. To do this, use waxed or plain paper, laying it on top of the T-shirt, and then run the iron over it.

The design will retain the freshness of the paints longer if the first wash is carried out not immediately after its application, but after some time. It is also recommended to wash hand-decorated items by hand, do not rub the area of the design too much, act carefully, and do not use chlorine bleaches.

How to care for a painted product

Once the item has been painted and dried, it is followed by proper care, thanks to which the paint will last a long time and remain bright.

The product should only be washed at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees.
The amount of powder should be minimal; the product is used without bleach.
When washing by hand: do not twist the fabric or rub in the area where the pattern is located.
Before washing, the product is turned inside out, and then straightened out and hung on a clothesline.
The item cannot be soaked.
Iron carefully, from the inside out.

You might be interested in: Patterns and sewing procedure for a chiffon dress

If you follow the recommendations, acrylic painting on fabric will last a very long time.

Acrylic lettering on a T-shirt

Acrylic paints are often used to create various inscriptions. This could be a child's name or a funny phrase, an athletic team logo, or a school class number. To make the inscription even and clear, use stencils. To do this, first write the desired word on a sheet of thick paper, then cut it out with a sharp stationery knife along the outer contours. Iron the T-shirt well and place thick cardboard or a piece of plywood inside. The main thing is that the place of the future inscription is well laid out. Attach the stencil with tape or masking tape on all sides so that it does not move as you work.

To fill the voids inside the letters, use a foam swab. To avoid getting your hands dirty, you can attach it to a wooden stick, as in the photo above. Then all that remains is to dip it in acrylic paint, and then blot the desired areas on the fabric. Wipe excess paint onto the edge of the jar to prevent it from running.

After all the inscription is completed, let the paint dry, only then carefully remove the stencil.

Drawing stripes

You can make different designs on T-shirts with acrylic paints with your own hands, embodying any creative idea. Let's look at how to turn an ordinary plain item into a striped one. You will need masking tape, which will delimit the distance between the elements of the design, and also “nail” the fabric to the surface of the table so that it does not wrinkle.

If you need to depict diamonds, a checkered pattern or other geometric pattern, then after the first layer of paint has dried, remove the tape and stick it on the other side of the product. By acting sequentially, you will get the desired pattern, and you can also use different colors.

Dyeing technology

It is recommended to use only high-quality pigments to create drawings. The colors are mixed on the palette in advance. For application, use cotton swabs and sponges.

Drawing Tips:

Apply layers from light to dark.
Draw thin lines with a brush made of natural bristles, thick lines with an artificial one.
Do not apply too thick a layer of paint - it will crack over time.
After a day, fix the design with heat (iron for 5 minutes).
Wash the product after 48 hours at 30 – 35 degrees.

Painting in the washing machine

This method is the simplest and does not require much time. To avoid damage to the machine, you should make sure that the paint does not contain aggressive chemicals.

The disadvantages include the risk of paint particles being retained in the washing machine, as a result of which subsequent items may be damaged. After dyeing, you will have to rinse the device 1 – 2 times (turn on the wash without clothes).

Instructions for dyeing fabric products:

Dilute the paint as indicated in the instructions.
Pour the solution into the powder container.
Wet the item and put it in the drum.
Select a mode in which the water heats up as much as possible (preferably up to 90 degrees).
Wash the product for 30 minutes.
Add 1 – 2 additional rinses in cold water.
Upon completion of washing, you can rinse the product in the basin again.

Manual method

Hand-painted fabric is called batik. There are different types of coloring using this technique. For example, you can use hot batik with wax and paraffin. After removing the wax coating, a white or lighter pattern will appear on the dyed material.

When using the cold batik technique, the fabric is not boiled, but simply soaked in a pigment solution, and the design is made with a special reserve compound. By the way, you can use ice for this technique - pour it over the newly painted item before rinsing, and leave for 30 minutes. A unique pattern will appear.

In addition to batik, regular painting on fabric with acrylic paints is used. It is convenient to do this with a brush or directly from the tube (using a thin tip). First you need to cut out the stencil by printing it on paper. Afterwards, the workpiece is painted according to the idea.

For the first time, you should try drawing or dyeing fabric on an old, unnecessary item. This will allow you to practice and do the main work with an ideal result.

Punching

To apply a repeating pattern to fabric, all you need to do is buy the necessary stamps. They look like regular printing and are sold in a large variety on Internet sites.

To avoid a lot of paint and a stain on the fabric, you need to pour the acrylic into a flat container for dipping the stamp, and for the first time try to leave a print not on a T-shirt, but on a sheet of paper.

Using a roller

To apply a stencil design to the fabric of a T-shirt, you can use a roller instead of a brush. This is done in cases where there is no need to highlight small details with a separate color. It is convenient to use a small foam roller for a single-color design, inscriptions, or covering a large area of fabric.

The stencil is drawn, as usual, on a sheet of thick paper and cut out along the contours with a stationery knife. Then the T-shirt is stretched to avoid wrinkles, and the stencil is attached with tape. Don't forget to always insert a sheet of cardboard inside before applying paint. It not only straightens the fabric, but also prevents dye from leaking onto the back of the garment.

Useful tips

It is better to dye dense fabrics: cotton, linen, wool blend, thick synthetics. The designs look good on leather and suede.

For light materials, bright, rich shades are suitable. It is better to paint dark fabrics with light tones and a thin brush. A contrasting pattern looks the most advantageous.

Interesting patterns can be created using an airbrush. It allows you to make unusual color transitions. But it’s better to purchase it when you gain experience in dyeing fabrics.

Decorating crafts

After the paint has dried and fixed it on the T-shirt with a hot iron, you can further decorate the item by adding volume to the design. This can be a lush bow or pompom on the character’s head, or you can sew a voluminous braid or rope edging along the edge.

In the photo above, the ballerina depicted has a full organza skirt attached to her. Even such a small decorative element can transform a thing beyond recognition. Now it is fashionable to make removable decorative elements. So, if you sew a strip of Velcro at the ballerina’s waist level, then at the child’s request you can change her skirts of different colors.

Using acrylic paints for fabric

We examined in detail how to draw a design on a T-shirt with acrylic paints. But you can apply an image not only on summer things. You can decorate jeans and skirts, fabric bags and cotton sneakers, wallets and belts, caps and jackets with a unique design. It's very fashionable to wear hand-painted classic denim jackets this season. The image can be small, for example, on a pocket or on a sleeve, or it can cover the entire back of the product.

Imagine, create, apply new technologies and decorate your life with bright colors!

Features of acrylic dyes

Acrylic belongs to polymer paints. This type of dye does not penetrate into the fibers, but covers them from all sides, as if enveloping them with a protective film. At the same time, the original threads become denser, and the fabric itself loses its elasticity.

The advantages of acrylic paints include:

availability;
possibility of dilution with water;
ease of use;
resistance to washing off after drying;
the ability to mix different colors with each other to obtain new shades.

Important! To fix the acrylic coating, “dry” heat is used: this is usually done with an iron. When applying several layers of dye, each layer is fixed with heat.

Before starting work, you should consider the following disadvantages of acrylic dyes:

when mixing several colors at home, it is difficult to obtain a “pure” shade;
Long-term storage of the coloring material is not recommended, as its properties deteriorate;
high fluidity, which makes it difficult to obtain clearly drawn patterns without the use of additional protective contours.