Art experiment, sunprinting on lightweight interfacing

Art Experiment is a a series of posts using supplies which I own but have rarely (or never) used. Failure or success is not important, it is trying something different and seeing what can come from it.  There are three goals: try something new, use something in my supply stash, and have fun/experiment in the studio.

Sun printing on interfacing

I have posted about sun printing with Setacolor transparent paints probably half a dozen times. I love it.  I have been experimenting with my stash of lightweight interfacing and saw it as a great excuse for more sun printing.  I am using a lightweight polyester interfacing that does not have any fusible on it.

I laid fabric(s) underneath to see if it could be printed as well as the interfacing (top layer). The interfacing is pretty thin and I know the paint will easily soak through to the bottom layer. I just didn't know if the interfacing would prevent the other piece from sun printing correctly. The fabric ended up printing very well, but the colors were a bit lighter.

Here is my interfacing.

My fabric and interfacing pinned to a foam board, and dampened with a spray bottle.

I then put down different paint colors with a brush, and place stencils on top, then set it in the sun. Now that I live in breezy Nebraska, I pinned all my stencils down so they wouldn't blow away.  I put a couple bricks on my foam board for the same reason.

After the stencils were removed.

Cotton fabric on the left, interfacing on the right.

I like the transparency of the interfacing, so I can layer it over other fabrics.

 Then I did another one with black paint.

I wanted to try one with puddle painting the interfacing and under-fabric.  (I make a puddle of different paints, and smoosh my damp fabric in it, I have a previous post about puddle painting here)  The interfacing and fabric got so wrinkly from the smooshing that I didn't think I would be able to smooth it out well enough to lay stencils on it, so I let them dry with wrinkles, which sun print in their own way.

Interfacing wet.

Interfacing dry.

 Fabric, almost dry. (This was the lining of a dress from the 60's, I think it is polyester?)

One more piece. This one has many smaller fabric pieces under it.  I do dampen the fabric layer before adding the interfacing on top.  This allows the paint to absorb better, and also allows me to smooth out any wrinkles and bubbles (which will sun print if left wrinkly).

I got some cool texture here  (on the interfacing).

 I love these two fabric prints. I will either use them as-is or do a bit of hand stitching.