Maybe someone can help.....
 

I have a friend who is a painter. She came with me yesterday to this quilting week-end and of course was wrapped in everything we're doing and browsed through lots of fabric.
Now her question is: if she made a painting on a canvas, flat, not on a frame, and then integrated this canvas in a quilt, say as a middle piece, is there a way to treat the canvas so the quilt later on could be washed too.
Thanks for your ideas and feed-back.
Have a lovely Sunday!!!
Cheers

No idea about treating the actual work.

Some have painted pictures ... photographed them, then had them made into fabric so that it looked like the original.

If you made a wallhanging, it would probably work. But washing? If she painted with a fabric paint on some kind of fabric, it would probably work. I don't know how canvas would wash. But Quilti has the best idea. Check her out.

She could paint directly on the fabric, is she used a fabric medium with acrylics.

she should test out fabric paints and paint sticks for fabric to see how it feels. would have to read what ever she buys to see about being able to be washed, etc.

I would suggest fabric acceptable paint on quilting grade cotton. The canvas would be too thick and wouldn't match the weight of the rest of the quilt.

If she is into computers then there are quite a few programs available to help scan/dray/etc whatever onto fabric.

Does she do silk painting?
Otherwise I cant see at all how this would work. It would be too stiff, surely, even without the washing conundrum?

I agree with Alikat - the canvas is too thick - my suggestion would be to paint on the cotton & then make the quilt around it - Gloria Laughman - Aussie quilter does that with great results

I believe the answer is within the art community. This is not something quilters deal with. However having said this, we see many quilted pieces entered in shows that the base design has been painted with thread painting over the painting. So the question for me is why would it need to be washed. Is the artist to make blocks to be put into a quilt to be used on the bed. Questions, questions.

Check out the way Gloria Laughman does it.( As Sandigrove sain) She work with paint, fabric and threads, with great results.

I draw and paint on fabric all the time. I use fabric paints & markers, regular crayons and oil crayons, acrylics with fabric medium, even painting with dyes...some techniques work much better than others. It seems like acrylics with medium result in the 'stiffest' , least comfy fabric for a quilt. I would not use canvas, because it does not wash well. I think you would have problems with the paint 'cracking' and, it would be very stiff & uncomfortable to sleep under. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. :)

Back when, we used to paint on t-shirts and sweatshirts with acrylic paint. They did fine for the first few washings, but eventually developed problems with cracking and peeling. Don't know if there are ones now that would be more successful over the long term or not.

I would suggest Shiva oil paint sticks. There are all kinds of sites to get information about the Shiva oil sticks being used on cloth. There might be a learning curve on using them with a brush, but I can't see why it couldn't be done. This way she could do what she wants without using regular canvas (it won't combine with quilting fabrics). She needs to make sure all the sizing has been washed out of the cotton fabric first so the paint can penetrate the fabric.

mom-6, did you mix the acrylic paint with fabric medium? I never had trouble with any cracking and some of mine were uniform shirts that weren't washed carefully.

She could probably use acrylic paint on fabric (quilting weight fabric) then heat set it with a hot iron and a good bit of ironing. Try a sample first of course.....also, have her try Pentel's Dye Sticks which smudge and blend into lots of beautiful effects, just like pastels. AND-----they are very inexpensive. Under $5 for a box of about 15 colors. I buy them online at Dick Blick since the big crafting retailers around me don't carry them.

I agree that she will need to reconsider her medium and paintable surface. She just needs to expand her thought process about painting. You can help her do this by showing her sites like this google images search page. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...08.a6SxjGajqgQ
She's going to fall in love with this!
Also put her in touch with some books about painted quilts -- American Quilting Society can help.

Jan in VA

I've washed cotton with acrylic and watercolor painting on it. I took a class where we wet the blouse, then dabbed a little watercolor in the wet areas and let it spread then dry. So essentially we had a watercolor background. Then, after it was completely dry, we painted acrylic flowers in the foreground. Granted, I don't wash it every time I turn around but it has been washed a few times when needed. I think both can be washed after they've completely dried but I'd wait at least a week or two.

I hand Painted a queen size quilt and used unbleached muslin. using Delta cream coat and medium to thin it. Then i heat set each block with a press rag and vinegar water, I came out nice and it is on of my fav., The pattern was full size from ARTIE SHAW, and it was Grandma and grandpa doing different things each month of the yr.. Like ice skating Jan, Cherry pie baked for grampa for feb etc. good luck............... cmaras

What bout the crayon pictures. They wash.

An alternative
 

I agree with everyone's recommendations...too stiff. If your friend has paintings already done and wants to incorporate some quilting with them, I did 10 totes last year for a luncheon table. I just removed the canvas from the frame and made the back of the tote with coordinating fabrics, added pockets, handle, etc. She could certainly make quilt blocks for the back and it would be a good starter quilting project showcasing both talents. I serged the inside so no lining, and just be careful when turning it inside out after making the bottom. Everyone was delighted to receive them!

I have painted on fabric with good results. I stretch the cotton, paint with acrylics and fabric medium mixed, then use the panel as a medallion or however you want to. Tell her to paint with thin coats and allow it to thoroughly dry before using it. I did a denim jumpsuit with mice on it this way and it went through many washes without losing the mice. I do think she would be wiser to make a wall hanging than a bed quilt. I could see it in the center of a bed runner. Momm,yum! Post pictures, pleez!

Don't have an answer for canvas. However, what about cotton fabric. I've painted a few squares with acrylic paints using a textile medium. Also, there is a line of fabric paints available, can be washed and remains soft. I definitely would go in this direction.

I would photograph it the put the photo on fabric

Judith Anderson formerly of New Hampshire now living in Florida does whole cloth painted and quilted works of art.

http://saqanhvtme.blogspot.com/2011/...-anderson.html

I do not think that canvas will work at all; it is too thick; it would probably shrink or buckle and would not be at all satisfactory.

I do not think a canvas painting would work well combined with cotton fabric in a quilt. However, I have seen beautiful quilts on which the blocks/designs were painted on cotton fabric using fabric paints. In fact, there was one awesome quilt posted on ths board on which someone had painted a variety of highheel shoes. Maybe your friend could check into fabric painting.

I've done that and it's been years since I painted flowers on some old bed sheets and they're still looking good. Fabric medium is the secret. Just have to be careful and not get paint too thick - it sorta cracks when it's washed.