Summer Projects :2 The sun umbrella!

An old faded umbrella, foldaway type was an eyesore. Originally it was copper gold and was very pretty. A few rains later it started to look stained and dusty and my super washing techniques took off the colour, leaving it faded and dull. So first I decided to Fabric paint it up. Well it may not be rain worthy but for the sunny days it would be nice and if the paint fades, I will add on more layers of paint again. So here it is and How I did it!

 I like triangles, so I chose this pattern. Any pattern for "Mandalas for children " will also work. If you are not artistic, stick to basic shapes. Draw basic shapes on a sheet of paper and work out the colour combo. Use the big bottles of fabric paint,  ( artist supply size) if your umbrella is nice looking you may just want to embellish it. ( the end of this post has suggestions) Then you just need the small fevicryl/ camlin paint or any other multisurface paints. Poster paints donot work. You will have to use the thick paint without dilution or the paint will run.

Things needed
 paint colours and white I used yellow ,  brown, green and blue. + white
 water to wash the brushes ( rinse out each colour or you will have the mess in the pattern).
Brush: 1inch size, smaller sizes for touch up
Tissue for catching run away colours
time and a mess- making area.( spread newspaper on the ground and work in your open area)
Umbrella: coloured or pale, faded for full paint. Blacks can only be embellished.  Paint wont stand out.


Open up and clean up your umbrella. Let it be dry or colours will run  across their borders. With white paint mark out the basic shapes. Since the umbrella is curved you cant use a ruler, so use strings tied across the corners to guide you if needed. I used free hand. Donot bother with neatness at this stage. In this first attempt I stupidly used black and later cleaned it up by using white on it. but I did click a picture.

 That's why we are better off, using white paint. try and fit in at least one shape for each colour in each segment of your umbrella. I used 4-5 shapes per section, sometimes not completing a triangle, leaving it four sided at the segment.

Here is an easier pattern of diamonds

Then basically it is like a colouring book. Use thick paint and fill in the colours with the one inch brush. Don't bother painting exactly close to borders and perfecting them; instead focus on filling the main body of the shapes.paint only one colour at a time taking care to start with lightest colour. After you have finished filling in as much as you think is needed in one colour add the second coat quickly this time focus on the borders.
 add the next colour and take care to have one intersection with the first colour. Having no colour touch itself is a math problem best left to mathematicians. try and make the overall patter interesting. Make sure if colur corrections have to be applied paint over the light colour with white. let it dry for a day then add the next layer of paint.
(GREEN + Yellow Gives BLUE etc)
If the umbrella is too dark, use white with your colour to brighten it in the last coat ( third). I had three coats. after the colours were filled,  I spent half a day cleaning and touching up the borders and covering any spots that looked patchy. Alternately use a black paint line to cover the border area and solve messy borders ( like a no man's land). Let the umbrella dry out for two days. Then use a hairdryer on low heat settings to dry it segment by segment. Fabric colours are to some extent water proof, though they may not stand the force of heavy rains. and hey ! your custom umbrella is ready. Since this is a recycle project, please don't buy a new umbrella and paint it up.

Other tips for that black umbrella:

1.
Use a lid and use white paint and form outlines of circles intersecting each other, also works in light colours. To get the paint on larger lids, use a sponge to apply the paint on the lid. Painting it on with a brush will leave large blobs. Alsoso as the umbrella is mostly only fabric, place some support under it like a tub or a bucket before you print on it with the lid.

Other stenciling methods don't work as the curved surface of the umbrella makes the colours run into each other easily.

2.
For the seventies look you can fill in those circles for polka dot effect.
 share your other ideas for funky recycling umbrella projects.
 Some not so working ideas. Sticking glitter didn't work. Don't fold the umbrella till it is completely dry. Some folds may crack the paint if it is laid on too thick.. If it looks like a batik effect, its alright. other wise genlty piant in thinner coats of the paint to repair them.

 It took me three whole days to finish painting. Hope you try it, it is fun.