the art of batik Nov.21, 2010.

           

'snowman made of steel pans'    (batik )
Gr. 4 student



I am intrigued by batik....the plain piece of cotton...an image in your mind...some wax, some dye, some soda and salt, and gradually... with time.. a reality to behold.

'Christmas Tree'  (batik)

The real pleasure is in the textures, the washed cotton, the smooth hard block of cold wax, the melted almost dangerously  hot wax pouring from a tjanting., flowing with a plan of its own!.  The fun is that you can't control it.. it flows where it will go.You get to play with it, as it flows hardening slowly,  bound by its own rhythm and rules.. Fascinating to watch ...the free flow of hot wax, the quick movement of your hands, the creating of something unpredictable. If you fight the flow of the wax,  it all goes wrong. You have to' travel with it'!

Tjanting tools for applying the hot wax.

' Christmas with a steel pan motif         '  (batik)
Gr. 5 student

You mix your dyes...you place the waxed cotton into it....you stir. ..the fabric slowly darkens as the dye stains it deeper and deeper...  The magic is in the image created... by the chemistry  of it all...you, the wax, and the fabric.. and watching it all emerge against the pure white background of the fabric.

' flowers for Christmas'    (batik)
Gr. 5 student

You rinse, you dry, and start again. You let the wax flow..choosing where to hold on to this glorious colour that has just been created.. and where to let it go.  Again the excitement of submerging the cloth in the dye, and watching as the two colours make a third, or many variations of a third. Always unpredictable. Always thrilling. And again you stir, as the shade darkens, and you watch it as if you have never seen colour before!

'snowmen'   (batik)
done by an student in infant class

And a third.. and a fourth...lighter to darker.. and you feel the magic.. the crinkles in the hardened wax creating  webs of colour. and  surprises!

Then a hot iron to melt the wax, and newsprint  to absorb it..you watch as the wax turn to liquid , flowing again into the newsprint. Your piece is done!

' Christmas trees, candy canes and presents'
( batik )

 But is it?  more options of a fabric pen, or paint brush to add details.. but will you use them?
.
The mystery and the magic ....is in the flow!  .....feels  a lot  like living life itself!

'Snowmen, Christmas Trees and snow'   ( batik )
Gr. 1 student

It is as much fun to introduce children to this  art... to see the excitement and watch

the wonder and joy of their discovery.  I will admit though that I have to hold my hands

to not get in their way!  The temptation is high.. to get your own fingers into the dye and

the wax.   And I do have blue fingers this morning!

Merry Christmas to you all!