How to Choose the Right Material for Faux Rag Painting?
Cheesecloth ragging paint finish
Question: What type of material is best for faux rag painting techniques? Cotton? Cheesecloth?
Or there's no difference at all and I'm making things more complicated than they should be?
The difference can be huge - depending on the fibers in the cloth, the resulted rag pattern can range from soft to harsh.
The most commonly used material for ragging is 100% cotton and lint free (or nearly so). Old T-shirts are ideal; they're soft and absorbent, and since they're well worn (or even worn out), they are relatively free of lint and fuzz.
Cheesecloth works well too, but it quickly becomes saturated. If you use cheesecloth for faux painting, be sure to launder it first to soften the fibers.
Terry cloth offers interesting possibilities since it has a nap that will leave a stippled texture. New terry cloth, however, is loaded with lint, so use an old towel that has been through the was several dozen times.
You can also do the ragging technique with linen, thin cotton, chamois, burlap and canvas rags.
In addition, you can create decorative rag impressions on a glazed surface using a variety of contrasting and unexpected materials such as newspapers, plastic bags (for a bolder, sharper effect), greaseproof paper (to imitate the look of shot silk), or even bubble wrap (for some fun imprints).
Practice playing with the glaze using different materials to see which look you like, before applying it to an entire wall. But remember that everyone's touch is different - no two people will create exactly the same finish. That's part of the beauty of it.
Before you begin your faux rag painting project, make sure you have enough of the selected applicator material on hand.