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Tools
The tools needed to create camouflage on a canvas are likely ones that an experienced painter will have on hand. Choose a brush size that is appropriate for the area covered by camouflage. For clothing, a smaller brush will work better while a large brush will cover an entire canvas quickly. Holding a palette as you paint camouflage allows you to keep all your colors close by and gives you a place to mix them, if needed.
How To Paint Camouflage
The look of camouflage isn't symmetrical and doesn't follow a set pattern, making it easy to reproduce on canvas. Use a photo to help guide you in determining what colors to use and how to combine them. Sketching your pattern lightly with a pencil on the canvas prevents mistakes, especially for a novice painter. Start at the top of the area to be painted and fill in each sketched area with one color. Camouflage typically consists of shades of olive green, tan, white and black that alternate in random patterns. The look also works with other colors, though they won't produce an authentic look.
Tips
Practicing the camouflage effect on a piece of paper or scrap canvas provides the opportunity to hone the technique before beginning on your artwork. Consider allowing each color to dry before applying another one. This prevents colors from getting mixed by mistake and creates defined borders between them. Using several different brushes allows you to paint large areas quickly and get smaller areas without running over the sketched lines.
Alternate Techniques
Although brush-painting camouflage on a canvas will produce the most authentic look, alternate techniques allow you to create an interesting piece of art while still incorporating camouflage. Sponge painting the camouflage colors is a faster technique that doesn't require as much precision. Cover the area with one color and then alternate the other colors in various locations with a small sponge. Another sponge technique is to cut out the shapes for the camouflage, dip them in the paint and apply them directly to the canvas. This method may leave gaps that will have to be filled in with a paintbrush, but is a faster way to produce camouflage, particularly on a large canvas. Some paint stores sell spray paint that, when sprayed on a canvas, mimic the look of camouflage. This product eliminates the need to separate the colors on your own and is a good option for a beginner.