MY LATEST RECYCLED CLOTHING

This is the front of my latest hand painted child's denim outfit. It's a really cute little jumper that I have painted up into a school outfit. Notice the apple on the cuff of the sleeve.

Here is a view of the back where I have painted a bright school bus.

Below are closeups.


I made sure this time to add enough fabric medium to the paints so the paintings will hold up well. I can picture a little girl in red tights wearing this adorable jumper. In keeping with my love of recycling this is a previously gently worn dress. It was so much fun to do I'll have to go do another!!

HAND PAINTED CLOTHING - FINISHED....I THINK...

Well at top is the back of the finished pants and below that is the front. Wow, this was almost as much work as a painting. I love how they turned out and the color of course is bolder in person. (Still not too good with a camera.)
I mixed the acrylic paint with a fabric medium as per instructions and painstakingly applied it to the denim praying that it would hold up. However, I want to let them sit for a bit (I always do that with my artwork to let it cure and because I am always going back to touch up something I missed.) Then I will "heat set" it and then...the big test....the laundering. For the most part all the researching I did online suggests washing inside out in cold water and not putting in dryer, at least the majority of the articles did.
So stay tuned and in a few days I will let you know how they hold up. Now, how am I going to keep myself from painting all the rest of the clothes until after the final test. Hmmmm....wish me luck.
You know you're an artist when you can't find a nice outfit to wear because everything has paint smears on it.

WORK IN PROGRESS

I decided to start with a little pair of pants first. What you are seeing is the initial design. I don't use stencils and it definately isn't done by air brushing so it won't be perfect but will definately be an original one of a kind piece of art. I pre-sketched a few insects such as a dragonfly, bee, ladybug til I liked what I drew than picked up my paintbrush and began to paint freehand...so have to see now how well they come out....stay tuned!

You know you are an artist when ou butter your toast with your fingers, just to feel its texture.

MY NEW CANVASES

These adorable children's denim outfits are just crying out for an original painting by me. I can hear them saying..."we are so boring....paint us!" Only too happy to oblige I am off to gather up my paint supplies and create some magic on them. This time I won't mess up!!! Stay tuned for the results.

WELL DUH ME!!!!

Like a Bull in a china shop I rushed into the fabric painting experience. Okay, I confess, I am one of those people that never reads directions (I know it all don't you know?) When I have the urge to do something I just rush right in without taking the proper steps. In other words, I learn by trial and error (even when it comes to raising my children.) :)

So I created the cutest painting on the cutest little girls denim jumper. It looked so professional and was so bright. I heat set it and then decided to test it in the wash. Children's clothes have to be washable. Even I know that.

Anxiously waiting through the dryer cycle I reached in and pulled out my adorable little girls hand painted denim jumper and nearly cried when I saw that in a few areas the paint had cracked!!! What had I done wrong? I realized right away what the problem was. I had mixed fabric medium into my paints as this will make acrylic paints equivalent to fabric paints and produce a nice soft paint texture. However, when I did a few touch ups in the painting I remember dipping my brush into the acrylics instead of the premixed paints.....well duh me!!! It was those spots where the cracking happened.

That was so typical of me not paying attention. No matter. I learned an important lesson and now know how to create paintings on denim so they won't crack or fade. I just wish I had thought of taking a picture of it before I ruined it in the wash.

Oh well, stay tuned I have a few more adorable denim outfits to test out and I will be sure to post those pics!!!You know you are an artist when...The highlights in your hair are from your palette and not Clairol.