Here's maybe a fun experiment. I'm planning to try watercolour painting on fabric. I know, not usually the recommended surface.
Here I have acquired samples of several different fabrics to play around with. (I need to get a couple more, these are all various weights of cotton)
At first glance, moisture management is going to be a lot different.
I've decided to do 4-6 paintings on one fabric before moving on to the next so that I have time to experiment before going to materials that might be different.
I'm starting with the 10 oz cotton canvas in white.
The first paintings from this project confirm: moisture management is going to be something to learn all over again.
The water soaks into the fabric very fast and wicks through the fabric in ways that don't happen with paper. Paint moves for either a longer or shorter time than I expect it to. Soft shapes are easy and crisp, smooth lines are difficult.
It doesn't feel like there's any way to lift paint back off the fabric. Though I have seen it flood and push pigment outwards, there isnt an edge where it stops like on paper.
Painting is slower than on paper.
I've purchased some silk, linen, and rayon to play with because some of the things I'm noticing are things cotton fabric is particularly known for.
I'm keeping my eye open for a light weight, tightly woven, plain weave, white or cream coloured wool. Because I think that would be very interesting.
Once I've been through all my fabrics plain, I might try pretreating then with something. Starch? Maybe an alum mordant as if I was dying?
Rivikah