I'm interested in painting a free hanging mural on natural linen with acrylics. I've tried using Golden's GAC 900 fabric painting medium, but it stiffens the fabric slightly. I'm hoping to find a technique/medium that will leave the cloth somewhat soft. I've seen a few French, commercial murals of topiaries done on natural, dark linen for hanging, but haven't been able to find a technique to follow.

Thanks for your help.

It is sounds like that you have seen murals that are printed on linen, not painted.

The ooriginal painting is digitalized (photographed) and then printed on raw linnen.

alternatively you can paint with very deluted acrylic paints (almost ink consistency) using technique similar to watercolor or fresco. i have done it many for event decor:

http://www.truefresco.org/2004/04/governors-ball-decor-reflectin.html

http://iladesigns.com/a_governors_ball_decor_oscars76.html