Each item created for Forlorn Moon goes through the same process steps below. I pride myself on making my paintings durable and able to withstand regular wear, as well as holding up to inclement weather and tough environments. Here’s how we do it:

Step 1, Wash and Prep: Especially for vintage clothing, I always clean the items before painting. This is both out of respect for the customer, and for better penetration and hold of the paint.

Step 2, Sketching: I almost always pre-sketch designs in chalk before applying paint. It’s permanent, so I’d rather be safe than sorry!

Step 3, Painting: The bulk of the process! I currently only use brushwork for paint application, so this encompasses a plurality of the work hours on each piece.

Step 4, Drying: I wait 24 hours to allow all paint to dry before moving to curing and treatment.

Step 5, Curing: The paints I use require heat-curing at high temps, which alters the chemical bonds of the paint causing it to become non water-soluble. This makes the pieces machine-washable and more durable.

Step 6, Treatment: Post-curing treatments can change depending on what material the clothing is made of. For most natural materials, I use a spray-on waterproofer to add extra protection of the paint. For non-permeable materials like leather, I use a flexible finishing varnish.