Published March 2018 | Updated Oct. 2024

Painted denim is a fun way to customize your jeans or jacket and create a wearable masterpiece!

It’s important to use the right paint for denim and follow the proper steps to ensure your masterpiece stays on the denim through wear and washing (yes, you can wash them!).

I first started painting on denim in 2017 as a way to combine my passion for thrifted denim with my art history minor degree and my love for painting! Soon after I created my first pair, I wrote this post to share all the details I learned through trial and error.

Years later, I continue to update this post with my knowledge and expertise in denim painting so you can also create your own works of art on your jeans and jackets!

This post contains affiliate links that earn me a commission. For more information, read my disclaimer.

I’ve used all different types of paint, tried different brands of brushes, and have experimented with pens and pencils to draw out the design. Now I have my go-to supplies, all linked below!

It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to painting on denim. It should be a fun process without any stress or worry! Follow my 5 steps below (plus an important bonus step at the end) to paint your jeans or denim jacket.

You can find all my denim painting tutorials at the bottom of this post.

Best Paint and Supplies For Painting on Denim

For a full list of all my recommended supplies, visit my Denim Painting Supplies list on Amazon or check out my Art Supplies page!

Note: The photo above shows Artist’s Loft paints, but I do not recommend using them as they are low quality. I’ve learned some things since 2017 when I first started painting on denim!

I’ve tested a few different brands over the years and my favorites are Amsterdam Acrylic and Golden Acrylics. You can also use Liquitex Basics, which are slightly cheaper than Amsterdam Acrylic.

If you already have acrylic paint or fabric paint and brushes, you can use those! It’s always possible to upgrade your supplies later on :) Just be sure to use fabric medium with acrylic paint.

Step 1: Tape the Jean Pocket

Choose which pocket you want to paint on and tape around it. I use a piece of Artist Tape for each edge. I have used both blue painters’ tape and Artist Tape, but I prefer Artist Tape.

If you are painting on a jacket, tape around the area you want to paint. This area can range in size and shape depending on the denim jacket style.

I’ve used a couple of different types of tape for painted jeans and found that artist tape is the absolute best!

It’s sticky and stays on the jeans as long as you need it to.
It peels off so nicely! (I’m known for my satisfying tape peels on Instagram)
It does not leave any sticky residue on your jeans.
The white tape looks nicer and makes it easier to paint the correct colors on your denim.

This tape is also great to use for watercolor paper too!

Step 2: Paint the Base Coats

Paint the whole pocket with 1-2 layers of white acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium.

Mix 2 or 3 parts paint with 1 part fabric medium on your palette, then paint it onto the pocket. The more fabric medium you use, the more flexible the paint will be once dry — it will also be a bit shinier.

Once the first layer is dry, you can paint a second layer of the paint + fabric medium mix over it.

Why Paint Base Coats?

This base paint will make the colors pop instead of blending into the color of the denim. It also creates a barrier so the colors do not soak into the denim.

Some acrylic paints are more transparent, which means whatever they are painted onto shows through. If you try and paint a transparent yellow onto blue denim, you will end up with greenish-yellow color and the denim peeking through.

Why Use Fabric Medium?

Fabric medium is required to make painted denim more durable. It also reduces issues such as cracking and adds more flexibility to the paint so it can bend and stretch more than plain acrylic.

The most important reason for adding fabric medium is it helps make the denim washable! Fabric medium turns the acrylic paint into fabric paint, which helps it bind better with the denim and stay on through wash and wear.

To learn more about how to use fabric medium, visit my guide on How to Use Fabric Medium.

Step 3: How to Draw Your Design

Once your base coats are completely dry, use a ballpoint pen to draw out your design over the white base coats.

It’s okay if the drawing is not perfect since you will paint over it in the next step. Your sketched design is mostly to help you map out a general design before going in with paint!

Below are a few examples of my drawings on the white base. You’ll see they’re just simple line drawings to use as a guide for painting.

Recommended Ballpoint Pens

I’ve tried a few different pens and found that the Papermate Profile pen is the best for a few reasons:

It doesn’t smear.
It rolls on well.
It doesn’t wear down like a felt tip pen does.

They’re also one of my favorite pens to write with!

Note: Some people have had issues with this pen smearing or showing through the paint. If this is the case, then a Fine Sharpie may be a better option for you. Just note that it may wear down over time.

Step 4: Paint On Your Design

Once you finish drawing your designs, you can start to paint!

How to set up your painting station:

Squeeze out small amounts of paint onto your palette — acrylic paint dries really quickly so you don’t want to add large amounts if you paint slowly.
Fill your paint cup with water (I love using a paint puck in the bottom of my water cup to help clean the brushes better!).
Lay out a paper towel or rag to dry your brushes on.
Set out your brushes so they are easily reachable.

I go a bit outside the lines when I paint, so the artists’ tape is really useful. I sometimes make halfway marks on the tape, which helps me keep the image proportional and accurate.

Paint in whichever way works best for you!

If you make a mistake, it’s easy to fix with acrylic paint. Read my guide about How to Fix Mistakes for in-depth info.

Denim Painting Tips

Mix your paint until you get the color you want, then add the fabric medium to the mix.
Have issues with the black showing though? Use a bit of white paint mixed into your color to make it more opaque and paint on multiple layers until the black pen no longer shows through. Don’t forget the fabric medium!
If you are painting from a reference photo, print it out or open the photo on your computer/phone/tablet and look at it often as you paint.

Step 5: Peel Off The Tape

Let your painting completely dry (12-24 hours, depending on your climate) and then slowly peel off the tape. This is my favorite part because it is so satisfying to peel and it cleans up the painting so nicely — like magic!

Last Step: Heat-Set Your Jeans

To make your painted jeans more durable, you will need to heat-set them! My top recommended method is ironing the back side of the painting for 5-7 minutes, with breaks every minute or so.

Read my full tutorial about how to heat-set painted denim for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

I get lots of questions about painting on denim and I’ve compiled the most-asked ones below to help answer any questions you may still have after reading all my tutorials!

What paint is best for painting denim?

My go-to paint is Amsterdam Acrylic! It’s great quality and they have a large range of colors.

If you really want to step up your painted jeans, Golden Heavy Body Acrylics are professional quality and the best acrylics you can get, in my opinion.

I’ve used both brands and while Golden Acrylic is higher quality, it’s not a major difference. Amsterdam Acrylic is perfectly suitable for anyone looking to paint gorgeous, durable masterpieces on denim!

What do I use for the base coat?

The base coat is just white acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium! It’s not a special type of base coat or anything like that — just the same paint and fabric medium you use for the rest of your painting.

Do I have to use fabric medium?

Yes! Fabric medium turns the acrylic paint into fabric paint, which makes it more durable, washable, and flexible.

I painted jeans without using fabric medium when I first started! Acrylic paint becomes permanent on denim once it is heat-set, but it will be less flexible and may fade slightly in the wash.

How do I seal painted jeans?

You do not need to seal painted jeans with any sort of top coat. All you need to do after you are completely done painting is heat-set your painted denim to make it permanent.

Can I use acrylic paint on denim jeans and jackets?

Absolutely! I mix acrylic paint and fabric medium to create a high-quality, wearable piece of art. Acrylic paint is the best paint for painting on denim.

Can I wash painted jeans and jackets?

Yes! Painted jeans and denim jackets are washable as long as you use the right supplies and heat-set when finished.

I recommend hand-washing or machine-washing your painted denim inside-out on delicate to preserve your masterpiece.

Recommended: How to Wash Painted Denim

Should I use acrylic paint or fabric paint?

High-quality acrylic paint is made with resin and pigments. When it is mixed with fabric medium, it adheres to the denim fibers when heat-set to become permanent.

Fabric paint is typically made for craft/hobby art. It is not usually made with artist pigments (like ultramarine, cadmium, etc.), which makes it difficult to create the colors you need, especially when recreating famous masterpieces.

I highly recommend using acrylic paint and fabric medium together instead of fabric paint for the highest quality painted denim.