Curtain of Colours
The Set Up
Lay the curtain or large fabric sheet flat on the floor or a long table before you hang it up. This is the moment to cover it with simple leaf outlines using a permanent marker. Sharpies work beautifully because the ink stays put once the spray hits. The outlines are loose guides, not colouring-in shapes because they give artists something to spray into, around, or completely over.
Once your drawing is done, hang the curtain across a wall or fence and protect the floor with a painter’s canvas or drop cloth.
Fill spray bottles with liquid watercolour, about ten drops per bottle to begin with, then adjust if you want softer washes or bold, glowing colour.
At Smudge we often set this up indoors, which feels wonderfully bold. Just check your fabric first. Thin curtains let colour spray through to the wall, which I secretly love, though it may not be ideal on a fresh white wall at home! Outdoors against a fence works just as well and can be easier to set up.
The Making
The first spray is always the most exciting isn't it! A cloud of colour hangs in the air before sinking into the fabric. Drips run down like rain and spread into shapes you could never plan. Reds bleed into yellows and suddenly a patch of orange glows across the curtain. Aim a bottle right at the middle of a leaf outline and the veins start to stand out, or spray across the whole sheet and watch shapes disappear under a flood of colour. The more the bottles are passed around, the faster the curtain transforms. What began as a blank sheet quickly feels like a wild autumn wall, shifting and growing with every layer of spray.
Variations
If fabric feels too big, tape together sheets of cardboard or paper and let the colours soak into those. Sponges and wide brushes change the marks completely, giving you heavy streaks and drips instead of mist. Once the curtain is dry, cut it into smaller pieces to save as collage paper. They always turn into the most beautiful scraps for later projects!
Materials
Curtain or large sheet of fabric
Permanent marker (Sharpies work best)
Spray bottles
Liquid watercolours
Painter’s canvas or drop cloth
Brushes or sponges (optional)