Experimental Acrylic Painting for Upcycling

$134.00

Saturday December 13
11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Instructor: Swarupa Chatterjee
Materials Fee: $45 (additional to registration fee paid to Instructor)
Students: 12

Join us for an exciting workshop exploring experimental acrylic painting, learning techniques to create stunning designs while keeping the fabric soft and flexible. One of the most common challenges with acrylic paints on fabric is stiffness, but we’ll show you innovative ways to overcome this issue. Acrylics are affordable and versatile, making them a fantastic medium for fabric painting.

The session begins with small swatches to practice techniques and build confidence. You’ll then learn how to prepare pure, sustainable fabrics like handwoven silk for painting and discover how to dye fabric with acrylic paints, adding depth and dimension to your designs. Throughout the process, we’ll focus on minimizing water usage and maintaining an eco-friendly approach.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own used shirt (white or very light in color; no T-shirts) to upcycle into a unique wearable piece. Along the way, we’ll discuss different ways to work with acrylics on various fabrics, how to fix colors for durability, and tips for creating vibrant, lasting designs. By the end of the workshop, you’ll take home a beautifully hand-painted silk scarf and a wealth of knowledge to continue your creative journey. Open to all skill levels!

Saturday December 13
11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Instructor: Swarupa Chatterjee
Materials Fee: $45 (additional to registration fee paid to Instructor)
Students: 12

Join us for an exciting workshop exploring experimental acrylic painting, learning techniques to create stunning designs while keeping the fabric soft and flexible. One of the most common challenges with acrylic paints on fabric is stiffness, but we’ll show you innovative ways to overcome this issue. Acrylics are affordable and versatile, making them a fantastic medium for fabric painting.

The session begins with small swatches to practice techniques and build confidence. You’ll then learn how to prepare pure, sustainable fabrics like handwoven silk for painting and discover how to dye fabric with acrylic paints, adding depth and dimension to your designs. Throughout the process, we’ll focus on minimizing water usage and maintaining an eco-friendly approach.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own used shirt (white or very light in color; no T-shirts) to upcycle into a unique wearable piece. Along the way, we’ll discuss different ways to work with acrylics on various fabrics, how to fix colors for durability, and tips for creating vibrant, lasting designs. By the end of the workshop, you’ll take home a beautifully hand-painted silk scarf and a wealth of knowledge to continue your creative journey. Open to all skill levels!

Swarupa Chatterjee is an Indian born Textile artist and designer with a passion for creating sustainable, handcrafted textiles. After graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, she began her career as a textile designer in the industry, later pursuing her creative path to develop her line of artisanal clothing under the banner of 'Seven-Leaves.' Swarupa experiments with colours, abstract textures, and innovative techniques while working on pure, sustainable fabrics like handwoven silk and cotton. She uses mediums like natural dyes, acrylics, liquid dyes, fabric paints and ink, besides creating textures with hand embroidery, to create visually dynamic and tactile designs. Swarupa’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of textile art has allowed her to develop a distinctive style, transforming simple fabrics into significant pieces that celebrate sustainability, craftsmanship, and innovation.