Name: Michelle
Message: I have no experience in fabric paints - but I am wanting to paint on my childrens' school bags made of thick canvas. I would just like to know, what would be a recommended paint to use, and where can I get it?

If you do not much care whether you can feel the paint on the fabric, as seems likely, then you do not actually have to use a good fabric paint. You can use ordinary artists' acrylic paints, available from any art or crafts supply store. 

When coloring clothing, it is unpleasant to feel the paint on the fabric. It can feel a little scratchy or stiff, which is a big problem for garments, but much less so for a book bag. When using fabric paint on garments, we like to use high quality fabric paints, which add only a very little harshness to the feel of the fabric. See this page about high quality fabric paints for more information:

Fabric Paints: a different way to color fibers

You can buy ordinary artists' acrylics at any arts supply or crafts supply store. Good quality fabric paints are more difficult to find. If your local crafts store does not carry any, you may be able to mail-order them. Unfortunately, I do not know the names of a mail-order art supply in South Africa, where you are.

Do not wash the painted canvas for at least a month after painting. If the bags must be washed after that time, be sure to turn themn inside out, and hand-wash gently. The abrasion of the laundry may remove a significant amount of the paint, given enough wear.

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