If you want to begin using fabric paint, you need the right supplies. Good fabric paint will be easy to apply with an applicator pen or bottle and won’t crack or peal over time. Of course, there are projects you can use fabric paint for other than clothes such as curtains and tablecloths.

The following are some fabric paint kits that are great for starting out. You can use puff paint that comes out of the bottle similar to glue or paint that can be applied with a paint brush.

How to Use Fabric Paint

You can try a variety of different fabrics, but most people recommend using 100% cotton tight fabric. A tighter woven fabric will produce brighter results. If you do choose to try different fabrics, start with a sample and see how it comes out.

Wash and dry the fabric before applying paint. This avoids problems with shrinking affecting the paint. Prewashing also takes off the sizing that was added to the material by the manufacturer. This must be removed so that the paint sticks to the fabric.

Iron the fabric to get rid of all the wrinkles. Put parchment paper or cardboard underneath the cloth to prevent bleeding. A sturdy piece of cardboard makes painting easier. I suggest securing it with a binder clip to make sure it doesn’t shift while you paint.

Painting Techniques

Be creative with your painting technique. Use a paint brush, try puff paints to draw with, dampen the cloth to get a watercolor effect, use stencils, etc. If you’re painting a t-shirt or another important piece of cloth, experiment with new techniques on a scrap cloth first. You don’t want to ruin a perfectly good t-shirt.

Finishing your Fabric Paint Art

Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours. Turn the cloth over (or turn the piece of clothing inside out) and use an iron on low heat to iron over the design. This will ensure that the paint completely sticks to the cloth. The instructions that come with the paint will tell you specifically how hot to make the iron and how long to iron it.

Wait at least 3 days before you wash the cloth. You must make sure the paint is completely set or else you could ruin your new masterpiece.

Here are a bunch of books that will show you how to draw all sorts of animals from lions, tigers, and bears, to birds and reptiles. Practicing with step by step instructions and tutorials will help you to develop your overall drawing skills, too.

Start with a Model

Find a picture of the animal you want to draw. You can turn any picture into a cartoon-style animal by making the drawing more simplistic and cute, or you can draw a real life sketch. You can find a picture of any animal you want on the internet.

Have the Right Tools

Technically, all you need is a pencil and paper. However, you will get better results from using quality paper or a sketchbook and using a variety of pencils, both hard and soft. Of course, if you want, you can start with a simple number two pencil. Using a variety of hard and soft pencils will allow you to get simple shading effects of other sketching techniques done right.

Choose your Method

You can draw freehand or try a grid method. With the grid method, print out the picture and draw a grid on it with even squares. Scale the squares up or down, depending on how large you want your drawing, and draw the same amount on a piece of paper. Then, take each square bit by bit and draw exactly what you see. Make the lines of the grid very light so that you can erase them as you go.

You can also draw freehand. Sketch out the main outline of the animal and then work in the features such as the facial features and limbs. Build onto what you have to bring in more intricate features. Before you know it, your animals will come out faster and better looking. Practice drawing often and your work will get much better.

Glass to Paint

If you’re painting windows, you probably already have the glass. Otherwise, you can paint all sort of glass objects such as drinking glasses, wine glasses, bottles, jars, candle holders, bowls, and glass sculptures. Here are many different glass items you can choose from. They will all become works of art once you start painting.

Glass Paint

You will not get good results by using basic paint on glass, such as acrylic paint. You will need glass paint. Some glass paint is very dark and opaque while others are very translucent. Mixing and matching these can give a great effect, or you can stay with one kind. Get enough glass paint to help you finish any product you are working on.

Paint Brushes

You can use any kind of paint brush when you paint on glass, but it will be different based on whether you are painting large windows or small objects. Obviously you aren’t go to paint a picture window with a small, fine paint brush. You will need varying sizes to do your artwork. Begin with a starter kit.

Glass Painting Instructions

If you are already an experienced painter, glass painting may be easy for you. However, it is different. You will need to learn techniques based on what type of glass surface you are painting on. For example, a window is a flat surface. You can paint an inverted image or any design. On the other hand, a bottle has many sizes. You may need different techniques to cover the bottle or get the look you are going for.

Face painting can be found all over the place being used for a variety of purposes. When you go to the fair, you can often get your face painted. Some people get their face painted for roles in a play or other areas. If you want to start face painting for carnivals and fairs or just for fun on the side, it’s easy to get started. All you need is some natural painting talent and the following.

Tools you Need for Face Painting

You can’t do face painting with just any kind of paint. Some paints can be very toxic when placed in the skin. There are special face paints to use that will not harm the recipients skin and that will go on easier and stay on their face without washing away easier. Do not use oil paint, acrylic paint, or any other kind of paint on anyone’s skin. Stick with paint made specially for face painting.

You will also need paintbrushes, sponges, and other tools for apply the paint. Get different sizes and shapes to allow you to achieve different lines and techniques when painting on the skin. Also, give your face painting recipients instructions for removing the paint as well, such as with cold cream, so that they can safely remove all the paint when ready.

Here are several options for face painting supplies, kits, and paints that will help you get started when you’re ready to paint. Start with a small kit while you are still practicing, unless you feel advanced and are ready for a large project with face painting.

Also, you should get some regular acrylic paint and paper to paint on for practicing before you actually start painting faces. Print out a practice face to help you learn where to paint on the face and to practice real designs on it. This way, you aren’t wasting face paint or messing up someone’s face to practice new designs that you are unsure of.

Learning the Skills

You should have some art skills and talent to paint faces. It’s not just a matter of covering the face with paint. As previously mentioned, practice different designs on paper first. Also, there are many great instructional books on face painting that will help teach you the proper techniques and give designs that you can copy. There are both beginner and advanced books.

Getting Better and Showcasing your Work

Face painting can easily start out as a hobby and turn into much more. Makeup artists that specialize in heavy makeup roles, such as turning someone into an animal or creature, are basically face painters at a whole new level. You may love it so much that you move from carnivals and fairs to working behind the scenes on movies and shows.

The Right Tools

Before you get started learning how to draw, you need the right tools and supplies. As a beginner, you don’t need to have top quality supplies, especially just for sketching. Get a pad of cheap paper for sketching on. Also, get a nice quality sketchbook. Carry it around wherever you go for sketching new ideas and practicing. I recommend a Moleskine Sketchbook. They are very durable and great for carrying around. Bristol paper is great for higher quality, purposeful drawings.

Pencils are the next important tool you will need. In fact, it is probably the most important. You can use a basic number 2 pencil, but there is only so much you can do with it. A great beginner package is a mix of a variety of pencils. Get a few soft pencils and a few hard pencils. You can choose the type to use depending on what you are doing, shading, sketching, etc. For a longer-lasting drawing, use a sketching pen. They are best for drawings after you have practiced for a while.

Instructions

You can start learning how to draw by just sketching what you see, or you can get a little bit of instruction. A drawing class is a great start. Check out local community colleges for available classes near you. If you can’t afford classes or you can’t make the schedule, books are a great idea. Try The Draw 50 Way which shows you how to draw a wide variety of things, or How to Draw People. Instructional books can show you how to draw cartoons or how to do life-like sketches.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practicing is one of the best things you will do while learning how to draw. Take your sketchbook around with you and take it out to sketch when you find yourself with free time. Don’t just draw the same thing all the time. Branch out with figure drawing, portraits, and landscapes, even if you’re trying to be a cartoonist. Ask friends for their opinion and use the criticism constructively. Only ask those that you trust and not people who will fail to offer constructive criticism. The more you draw, the better you will be.

There are many different kinds of paintings. You might like the old paintings by Picasso and Monet, or you might prefer the new modern of art of today. Both are beautiful and interesting.  There are plenty more painters and types of painting techniques than them.

Have you ever wanted to try painting yourself? If you have and aren’t sure if you’d be good enough, just go for it! You don’t have to be “good enough” to paint. You can be a horrible painter and still enjoy it. You will never know if you like it until you try!

In the following sections we will discuss different kinds of painting, mainly different kinds of paints to use. Search through them and figure out which one is right for you. Some are similar, some are very different. Either way, there are pros and cons to each kind of paint.

Within each type of paint there are many different painting techniques.  You can use different brush strokes, layering, etc.  There are no write and wrong painting techniques.  You may come up with something that has never been used before.  There is only so much instruction and learning you can get.  Eventually, you just have to jump in head first and paint.

Oil Painting

Oil painting is a well-known type of painting. It can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it can be fun, relaxing, and fulfilling. Try it out and see how you like it!

Acrylic Painting

Acrylic painting is very similar to oil painting with a few critical differences. Whether you prefer it to oil paint or not, it is a great paint to start in and to create beautiful works of art.

Watercolor Painting

Watercolor painting is very different from the rest. It relies on water to produce a unique look. It can be very hard to master, but some people are naturally gifted in this paint. Maybe you are one of them?