Post #806953 by TIKIGIKI on Tue, Dec 20, 2022 2:43 PM

If you can paint at all then you can certainly paint on black velvet. It's a bit "draggy" on the brush, but I have seen people paint the full silhouette of their subject completely white with undercoat first then just paint conventionally on that, leaving the velvet untouched as the background.

However it is my understanding after quite a bit of research into the subject that true "black velvet painting" style is not just a fully painted item/figure that happens to be done on black velvet background instead of say canvas or a prepared board. The black of the velvet should be incorporated into the subject itself as the "darks/shadows", which are in fact NOT painted at all, but left out to show the velvet itself. This integrates the velvet and uses it as an integral part of the work rather than just being relegated to being merely the support of a fairly conventional painting. When this is done properly it gives a far more striking effect than just a "cutout" sitting on the velvet.

There are two small black velvet paintings that have been sitting in a charity shop here for quite some time. Fairly competent works too, if a little "cute" ! Unfortunately (for me as it happens!) the subjects are a little Dutch boy and girl in national costume.........

[ Edited by TIKIGIKI on 2022-12-22 18:07:57 ]