Henry, you can get the basic powdered dyes in the primary colors and mix them with a little bit of aloe vera clear gel. When you paint them on, the gel helps keep the color in place. You can mix your own colors and it will not be as expensive as fabric painting pens. The aloe washes out when you are all done. You would need to use a setting agent on it. If you use acrylic paints which are cheaper, can thin them down with the gel too so the fabric will not be as thick. This will not bleed or cause problems when laundering. I just heat set it when I am done with an iron and a paper bag on top of the fabric.