This is such an exciting topic to discuss since this is the very thing that started my own business and we still do custom jackets to this day! However, I know that not everyone has $100-$300 in this economy to pay an artist like myself to make a custom piece for them. So, I want to share what I know with you in case you're looking to take on a project like this yourself!
Perhaps the most important step to creating your own painted denim jacket is mapping out your ideas on paper first! In my opinion, I think it's important to tackle this before you start whipping out the paints. I would get out a sketchbook, a piece of paper, or even your iPad and begin to stencil out what you're planning on painting. This is a great first step because it helps you to plan exactly where you want everything in your design to be placed before you start putting paint all over your new jacket!
For sketching, I would recommend trying different placements, color schemes, and sizing for your design until you land on something that seems perfect! I cringe when I think of the amount of jackets I started in the past and realized the placement or size of the design was completely screwed up after I already started.
Now that you have your idea in mind all planned out, here is what you're going to need!
Materials:
Textile Medium
Acrylic Paint
Denim jacket
Paintbrushes
Paper Towels
A cup of water
Mod Podge Fabric Sealer
Clothing Iron
Something to mix paint on like a paper plate or a paint palette
Bandana (or other thin fabric)
Lint roller
Now, there are many different ways to paint jackets I'm sure but this is the way that I do it and it has worked really well so far. As for the materials, I am going to list out the exact brand of products I use but please feel free to use any brand that feels right for you.
For my textile medium, I have always used Delta Creative Ceramcoat Textile Medium - here is the link to check it out on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cMHkwT. For full transparency- I will receive a small commission if you were to purchase this product through my link... a girl's gotta eat! Truthfully though, I genuinely use these products myself. To prove it, instead of using the pretty product photo in this article I will post a picture of my gross bottle that I use everyday.
For my acrylic paints, I truly use the cheap stuff. It has always worked for me and it helps to keep the price for jackets lower. I wouldn't use them if they were terrible and I have been very pleased with the results. Maybe eventually I can upgrade to use better quality acrylics- but for now I just use Apple Barrel Gloss acrylic paint - link to them is here: https://amzn.to/3Y5o1KF.
This last item is truly the icing on the cake - Fabric Mod Podge. Once I started to seal up my jackets using this Mod Podge, the quality of the finished product went way up. The biggest change from starting to seal them with this was the fact that they could hold up much better when handwashing them! It creates a nice finish on the whole art piece and makes sure that the paint holds up well. Again, I know that other people use different things but this is what has worked well for me throughout my years of trial and error! Here is the link to the Mod Podge I use: https://amzn.to/4f3lbfo.
As for the brushes- I just use the cheapest brushes I can find at Walmart. I am terrible at cleaning my brushes (a bad trait of mine) and so I am too afraid to buy expensive ones! Cheap brushes have always done the trick for me.
The Painting Process
Once you have all your materials assembled and a jacket out in front of you, it's time to make the magic happen! I am now going to give you my biggest piece of advice: PAINT MULTIPLE LAYERS OF WHITE FIRST and don't forget to use your textile medium. To use the textile medium, follow the directions on your bottle to mix the medium with your acrylic paints. Please, do not skip this step! I know it's annoying and you want to get right to the design, but if you skip this step you will pay for it. Since we're painting on clothing, the first few layers of paint are going to soak into the fibers of the fabric. You want to build up a solid base of white so that the paint is no longer soaking in and is actually providing a smooth surface to start adding color and detail.
After you have your layers of white finished- you will have a great surface to start fleshing out your design. Now you can start to mix your textile medium with the rest of your colors on your palette or plate. I just use a cup of water and some paper towels to clean my brushes in between colors. It's finally time to just zone into painting and bring your idea to life!
The amount of time it takes to paint a jacket just depends on how much detail you're including. The jackets I paint for clients can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Just don't rush and make sure to let the paint dry properly in between layers!
Ironing and Sealing
Once your jacket is fully painted, you're in love with it, and it's completely dry, it's time to finish it up! The next thing you're going to do is grab your lint roller and make sure there is no excess dust or hair on your painting.
Once that's finished, heat up your clothing iron and grab a bandana (or some type of thin fabric cloth). Spread the jacket out on a flat surface and lay the bandana across your painting. Run the heated iron over the design on top of the bandana- make sure not to hold the iron still or in one place for too long! Just move it back and forth quickly over the whole painting for about 15-30 seconds. This process is to heat up the textile medium mixed with the paint and melt it into the fibers of the jacket.
Let the jacket cool off for a while before this next step. After your jacket is cool as a cucumber- it's ready to be sealed with Mod Podge. Lay the jacket back out flat on a table and lint roll it again to get any dust off. For sealing, I get a cup of water and slightly water down the Mod Podge as I go so it's easier to spread- but VERY sparingly! If it gets too watery, it will not dry perfectly clear!
What I do is: I take a paint brush, I dip it in water, I then dip it in the Mod Podge, and then I spread it on to the jacket. I do this over and over until the entire jacket is covered. Mod Podge goes onto the jacket white but it dries clear so don't be afraid of covering up your design with this scary white substance!
Let the Mod Podge dry for 24-48 hours before messing with it at all. I also would never wash it or severely bend it until at least 3 days after sealing it.
Washing
There are various opinions on how to care for a painted jacket, but here are my rules for washing your painted piece to give it the longest life possible:
Handwash only!
Don't use fabric softener or harsh detergents.
Never use a dryer. Hang to dry only.
Following these rules, my jackets have lasted to this day with minimal cracking and fading. Now, with regular use, your jacket will crack, fade, or peel over time! There is no way to make it perfect forever- that's just the nature of a custom painted piece. However, if you care for it properly it can last for a long, long time.
Farewell Friend!
I hope that you found this article helpful if you are looking to paint your own jacket! It's extremely doable and it's really fun project to take on. If this all sounds too intimidating or too time consuming, there are artists out there (like me!) who would be happy to create something for you! We have a custom order page right here on the site if you would like to inquire about a painted piece and a gallery of our past orders for you to check out. We paint guitars, skateboards, jackets, jeans, skirts, shoes, and more!
Thank you for checking out our site and good luck creating your own masterpiece!
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