Painted Covers

Painting, Cleaning and Fire resist are at the bottom

                                                                                                     

The examples shown on these pages are traditional and contemporary interpretations of tipi cover designs.  It is not recommended that you copy any of these covers as they are owned by family or the individual owner and passed down through the family or the rights have been transferred to a new owner.  The Laubins book shows many examples of tipi cover designs, it is to show examples and not really for copy.  If you choose to paint your cover, it is highly recommended that you do your research before putting on the first paint stroke.  Once you start painting there is NO going back.

Canvas, linen or cloth covers for tipis started becoming popular among the Native Americans around 1851.  According to Kurz's  1851 journal, more of the wealthy men were already getting canvas for their lodges.  Treaty annuity payments in the late 1850s and 1860s, also were accompanied by lots of canvas bed ticking an other fabrics.  As the 19th. century wore on, the covers got bigger.  More bolder surface designs were applied with the new industrial paints and dyes that did not wash off or fade.  Looking at old photos of Blackfoot tipis, drawings of the Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Sioux depicts spectacular cover paintings in their sketch books.

The pictures on this page are of Powwows, Encampments, Rendezvous and any camp that has painted tipis.  This includes some European set ups.  These people have a love of the tipi and wish to reproduce the time period of the Plains Indian.  Others just like to go camping.  As pictures come in, I will up date them by adding more and changing others. If  you recognize your tipi, let me know.  My pictures cover a time period of 1970 to 2000 and come from the old NAPR to today's NMLRA, National Powwow, Crow Fair,  Powwows and many more groups over the years.         Words in Italics are the makers of the tipis and not necessarily the owners.

Designs on Covers

This area will cover Painted Cover Designs.  

 

Johnson-Montana				Dakotas
Holley-Holley 17'-Fla.		Awning Canvas c.1910 Nez Perce 10' Four Winds Trading Co.		18' Holley-Idaho
Awning Canvas     Wood-Wood 17'-North Carolina	Holley-Holley 15'-Fla.	Utah		Custer Trading Post    Montana
Rick Peterson  17'              Wood -North Carolina		22'Nomadics

	Steve Jarrard 21' -Georgia-Spring Valley lodges-			Bill Walters-4Seasons lodge  Michigan
	Carl  Miller-Mo. Garry Winders/Warren Blitter- Mo.
Holley-Holley 12'-Fla.		Kim Henry 19'-Fla.	Anadarko-20'Okalahoma	Tennesee-18'-Holley

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*Painting a cover...what ever  you do, do not use enamel or something that takes mineral spirits to clean.  Enamel can cause the cover to crack which will lead to leakage and canvas splits as the material separates.  A good paint is  Liquitex Canvas paint or use Acrylic house paints and WATER them down.  About 50/50 is good as your tipi needs to breath and bend.  Too much paint and it will get real stiff and very heavy.  It will also shrink the canvas in the areas painted.  I did my 17' all over and it shank at least 3".  Pulled the pegs right out of the ground.  Then  you will have to re-water proof the cover as the paint takes the water resistance right out.  It would also be a good idea to test your colors and paints on an extra piece of canvas to see the results.

*Cleaning a canvas cover....A simple but effective solvent to remove mildew from tents or other canvas like fabrics can be made using ordinary household items.  In about eight ounces of water dissolve two teaspoons of salt and two teaspoons of concentrated lemon juice. Wash the mildewed cloth with this solution, then rinse with fresh water.  Let dry in open air before using.  You will need to Scotch guard or re-water proof the area effected.   Mold & Mildew Remover Color and fabric safe! Removes mold, mildew, dirt, and algae stains from virtually every boat surface. Also removes stains from vinyl, plastic, canvas, carpeting, wood, fiberglass and painted surfaces. Just add water to the biodegradable, concentrated powder and apply the solution to the soiled item. Makes three gallons of solution. 12 ounce jar.

* Water Resisting or Water Proofing materials....... Canvak® Water Resistant Canvas Preservative Canvak, perfect for heavy duty cotton canvas. It is a petroleum based water repellency treatment.  Great for cotton canvas tents, tarps, covers, and other cotton canvas products.  Increases product life and restores water repellency.  One gallon covers approximately 80-100 sq. ft.       Note: Canvak is not recommended for use on vinyl finishes or synthetic fabrics Aqua-Tite® Waterproofing A premium grade heavy duty solution containing 10% silicone.  Restores water repellency to acrylic, cotton, nylon, polyester, poly-cotton blends and Sunbrella™ fabric.     303 Fabric Guard 303 Fabric Guard restores lost water repellency and stain repellency; it also resists soiling, impedes mildew, and protects against the sun's harmful UV rays.  Ideal for all natural and synthetic fabrics. Perfect for Sunbrella Awning, Marine and Casual Furniture Fabric.    .Clear Preservo- " A protective liquid compound for waterproofing and mildew-proofing canvas. Preservo leaves canvas soft and flexible. 1 gallon covers approximately 90 square feet of 10 oz. or 11 oz. canvas, available in clear only." .Weathermaster-"A specially formulated, instant water-repellant compound which provides an excellent water-repellant treatment of heavy-duty canvas. Coverage for 1 can is 50 square feet or more, depending upon condition of fabric."    Clean or wash your Sunbrella cover or top. Periodically bush the dirt off the fabric. You can hang it up and beat it with a broom like an old carpet. If you have Compressed Air, you can use a blow gun to get the dirt off. works very well Or Wash the cover with some mild soap and water (not detergent) and a brush. Dish soap works well or hair shampoo if you want it stronger. You can wash it on the boat, on the grass, or on Smooth Concrete. Rinse with plenty of water. Use pressure washers at less than 200 psi. pressure, or it can damage the fabric. If you have an extreme need for industrial cleaner, use biodegradable degreaser, a plastic bristle brush and water. But you must rinse it 4 times, use a lot of water and do not let it dry until it is completely rinsed. Get it at the auto parts store. Applying Silicon or Paraffin base waterproofing to a cover or top. Waterproofing older covers, worn covers, cotton duck, and canvas tents. The best thing for these is using Silicon or Paraffin based coatings. These are waterproof coatings and will seal the fabric. It is best to add vents to the cover after applying these. Canvak is in the home improvement store, or Aqua-seal at the marine supply. Canvak is a parifin based waterproofing that can be brushed or sprayed on. Aqua-seal is silicon based waterproofing that you spray on. You can use a yard sprayer to apply these. Lay the cover out anyplace. Spray a damp even coat and let it dry 24 hours. Then give it a second coat and let that one dry. Both treatments will make the fabric heavier, and the color darker.

*Fire Retardant...home made additive                                                 9 oz. 20 Mule Team Borax    4 oz. Boric Acid    1 gal. Luke warm water    Spray or paint onto canvas.