Spotlight Terri Shinn, Textile Artist
Asking "what if" inspires Terri Shinn to experiment with texture and color to achieve her vision of the world, often from a macro perspective. She gets close to her subjects...
Surface Design
Surface design adds layers of interest to your art with painting on fabric, fabric manipulation, textile dyes and more. Acrylic paint is fabric-friendly, so easy to use and widely available. If you prefer, you can use fabric dyes, pens and markers in your designs with resists, stencils and stamps. For more options, try fabric manipulation techniques – they create sculptural effects, bringing depth and dimension to your art.
Browse through our projects and inspiration that feature surface design.
Surface Design Inspiration
Spotlight: Jane Dunnewold, Artist, Author, Educator
Creating is vital to the person who is Jane Dunnewold. When not experimenting with surface design techniques and materials and making textile art, she teaches others to find their creative...
Spotlight: Francesca Penchant, Multidisciplinary Artist
A multidisciplinary artist, Francesca Penchant stretches the boundaries of visual art by embracing and celebrating differences. Whether working in surface design, wearable art, photography or film, she finds joy in...
Eco Printing and Dyeing on Textiles
More Eco Printing and Dyeing Inspiration
Spotlight: Lotta Helleberg, Fiber Artist
Combining the essence of the flora that surrounds her Virginia home with her Scandinavian esthetic, Lotta Helleberg uses botanical contact printing (AKA eco-printing) as a foundation for her fiber art....
Spotlight: Chris McLaughlin, Fiber Artist
As a suburban child, Chris McLaughlin knew she was always a farmer at heart. Now she lives her dream raising animals for fiber and flowers for bouquets and botanical dyes. As...
Spotlight: Tatiana Sarasa, Visual Artist
Tatiana Sarasa's art connects her with the earth. That connection gives her so much satisfaction that she promotes the connection through her own work and by providing a collaborative workspace...
More Surface Design
Spotlight: Kirsten Miller, Natural Dyer and Sewist
Kirsten Miller has been a maker and crafter since she was a young child. She grows or forages for plant material to use for natural dyes, then transforms the fabrics…
Spotlight: Ann Johnston, Textile Artist
Ann Johnston began exploring dyeing fabric from a need for fabric in specific colors. She continues to challenge herself to create new textures and patterns for original fiber art. How…
Spotlight: Susan Callahan, Textile Artist
Susan Callahan combines her experiences and passion for food while working in a commercial kitchen, with her love of working with textiles to create her art. Fiber art and food.…
Spotlight: Marita Wai, Cyanotype Artist
During the pandemic, Marita Wai remembered the fun she'd had as a child and bought a Cyanotype kit to do with her children. She opened it up and used the…
Spotlight: Kay Leech, Textile Artist
Kay Leech was reaching retirement and wanted to try something creative. She jumped right into courses and studied with City and Guilds. Now she enjoys creating her textile art with…
Spotlight: Fleur Rendell, Visual Artist
Fleur Rendell has enjoyed art throughout her life, both as a maker and a viewer. She finds inspiration for her work in everyday objects and items that hold memories. How…
Spotlight: Adeline-Julie Bee, Watercolor and Surface Pattern Artist
Adeline-Julie Bee creates her own watercolor inks for painting. Her paintings are inspired by nature and her daily walks. The patterns and designs in her paintings are translated into fabric…
Flower Pounding Tutorial: What it is and How to do it
Have a bounty of flowers in your yard and ready to make some unique art? Flower pounding might be a perfect project for you! It is a natural way to…