From ATX Fine Arts:What is fabric painting?
Paint is applied to fabric (such as garments, linens, or canvas) in order to create designs and patterns. Using brushes, stamps, stencils, or other tools, you can create a pattern that will remain on the fabric indefinitely.
Cloth paint is commonly used for this purpose because of its excellent adhesion to fabric and its resistance to cracking and peeling.
Painting on dry or wet fabric will provide distinct effects. More specifically, there is a wide range of paint finishes, from transparent to opaque and shimmering.