"On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting." – Jackson Pollock

At some stage or other we've all had an accident with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of red wine on a carpet, leaving a splodge of brown or red that's been an eyesore. But just think, if your carpet were a recreation of a Jackson Pollock drip painting, the next time it happens it really won't matter. It'll simply look like part of the art. So what are you waiting for? Get your fabric paints out today and transform your lounge carpet into a Jackson Pollock drip painting!

You will need:
• A range of fabric paints. The less viscous the paint the better.
• Water or a suitable medium to dilute the fabric paint if necessary.
• A set of small pots to put the paint in.
• Some sticks or brushes with bristles that have become solid by paint that wasn't washed out properly.

What you're going to do:
• Study the works of Jackson Pollock and decide whether you're going to recreate a specific masterpiece, or use his oeuvre as inspiration for your own original masterwork.
• Move the furniture off your carpet so you can work on the whole thing rather than just parts.
• Dribble the paint across the carpet, either pouring directly from the container, or dipping in a stick or hardened brush and then letting the paint run or this. Or flick the paint around with the stick. Don't forget to make a few puddles to match future coffee stains.

"[Pollock] aided by sticks, hardened brushes, and garden trowels, [would begin] dribbling liquid Duco enamel, aluminium, and oil paint directly from cans onto giant lengths of sized, unprimed canvas tacked to the floor of his barn studio." (Daniel Wheeler in Art Since Mid-Century)

Helpful Tips:
• For 10 extremely helpful tips on using fabric paint, read 10 Tips for Fabric Painting.
• If money is an issue, buy the three primary colours, then use the Colour Mixing Classes to mix a rainbow's worth of colours.

How will you know when you've finished?
Once again Jackson Pollock provides the answer: "How do you know when you're finished making love?"

Don't forget:
Send in a photo of your completed carpet for the Painting Project Gallery so we can all share in it. And do join in all the discussions on the paintings in the Painting Forum.

Related Resources • Comments on Submitted Projects on the Painting Forum • Guidelines for Emailing Photos of Completed Project Paintings • More Painting Projects • Critique Corner • September 11th Gallery