The floorcloths and placemats are made from a sturdy canvas that is painted to give the fabric more durability, and to provide a suitable surface for decoration. I use acrylic paints, glazes, and metal leaf and draw on a variety of decorative painting techniques. Finally, the decorated surface is then protected with several coats of a water-borne polymer finish. Unless exposed to unusual conditions, these handmade functional art objects should provide years of enjoyment.
Painting canvas to use as a floor covering is a practice that goes back hundreds of years. In colonial America, canvas was painted in bold geometric patterns and put to use in rooms that needed a durable and easy to clean floor covering. The advent of new materials--Linoleum, for example--largely replaced the production of floorcloths. For many years the craft of floorcloth painting languished. Restorers of period homes and theater set painters were about the only people who knew what floorcloths were.
In recent years floorcloths have enjoyed a revival in popularity. Modern paints and varnishes have made the production of beautiful and durable floorcloths easier, and the renewed desire of people to have handcrafted furnishings has allowed this craft to enjoy a revival. Today people tend to use floorcloths as accent pieces, rather than as a purely functional floor covering, but the qualities of durability and ease of cleaning make them excellent options for rooms like kitchens and work areas.
Care
A properly cared for floorcloth should last indefinitely. Although they are very durable, there are situations where a floorcloth may suffer some damage. The floorcloth should be used on a hard floor, since use on carpeting will cause cracking of the painted surface over time. The floor should be cleaned before laying down the floorcloth as small bits of debris can dent or possibly puncture the floorcloth if trapped underneath. The floorcloth should be anchored if it slips on the surface on which it is placed. The thin mesh used for area rugs works well.
Exposure to water will not harm the floorcloth, but it should not be left sitting in water. Detergent and water will suffice to clean most dirt and marks that may appear. A non-abrasive cleaner may be used to remove stubborn marks. After a year or two a thorough cleaning and a new coat of a protective varnish may be applied. I use Varathane Diamond waterborne finish. It is durable, flexible, very clear and dries rapidly. Some people wax their floorcloths. This works to clean and protect, and may be more convenient to apply, but new coats of the protective varnish cannot subsequently be applied. Over time the corners of the floorcloth may fray a bit. If this happens, the fibers can be trimmed with a pair of scissors and a drop of sealer (clear nail polish works well) can be applied to seal the trimmed corners.
Floorcloths are not intended for outdoor use, although several of my clients have reported satisfactory results in semi-exposed environments--decks, porches, gazebos--places where the floorcloth may be exposed to sun and water, but not inundated with rain. There is an outdoor version of the protective varnish that may be useful for situations where the floorcloth has greater exposure to the elements. Let me know if you intend to use your floorcloth outdoors.
Custom Work
Floorcloths can be made in a range of sizes, limited only by the size of canvas available. I can custom make a floorcloth to complement a room. Prices range from $20 - $30 per square foot. An intricately detailed project will be more expensive, and large, relatively simple designs can be fabricated for less. I can estimate the price for a job once the design parameters are established.