Insert the cardboard into the t-shirt to provide a stable surface on which to work, and prevent paint and medium from bleeding through the fabric. Gently stretch and secure the t-shirt at four corners with binder clips to hold the fabric taut against the cardboard underneath.

Determine where your design will be placed on the garment and use small pieces of painter’s tape to define your working area.

Pour a small amount of Liquitex Fabric Medium into a container and use an acrylic brush to apply an even coat over the design. The Medium will initially appear cloudy white but will dry clear. The fabric may darken slightly where the Medium is applied, so plan on drawing over that area.

Allow the medium to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.

Lightly sketch your design onto the area of the shirt where the Fabric Medium was applied to use as a rough guide for your illustration.

Shake the closed Black marker to distribute the paint. Take off the cap and depress the nib 2–3 times to saturate before using.

Beginning with the eyes, let your marker travel naturally over the sketch – allowing lines to cross over themselves, connecting different parts of the image. Work slowly and confidently as the marker moves from one area to the next. The line will weave its own visual path as it explores the image.

At this stage you might want to leave the piece as a pure line drawing. The simplicity of the linear design can be striking on its own.