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Learning Moments
BATIK — Art of resistance dyeing
HISTORY — BATIK
Batik is a technique of hand-dyeing fabrics by using wax as a dye repellent to cover parts of a design, dyeing the uncovered fabric with a color or colors, and dissolving the wax. This method of an art form has been recorded as early as the 1800’s and is from the Javanese word tik, which means ‘to dot’. It dates back to the 6th century and examples of wax-resist dyeing have been found that early in Egypt and other areas in Asia, Africa, China & India. There are some reports that the batik method goes back as early as the 4th century.
MODERN BATIK
Contemporary artists create batik art based on the traditional method using a variety of materials, such as silk, linen, rayon and cotton and can also be done on wood, leather and paper. Some of the uses includes quilting, fashion and fine art.
BATIK DESIGNS
Created by Christal Banks
Threads Textile Designs Company
In 2023, I enrolled in a Master Class in Indigo Batik at the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media. It
was an amazing experience! The instructor
shared a traditional method lesson, which involves using natural indigo plants, a boiling outdoor pot and the sun!
The BATIK methond of dyeing fabric —
The drawing tool is a sponge trimmed to resemble a pencil, which is dipped in the hot melted wax. I drew a design on the cotton fabric and then traced over the design with the hot wax. The dried natural indigo plant is cooked in boiling water to prepare for dyeing.
The fabric is placed in the boiling pot, soaked, rinsed and placed in the sun to dry. The sun naturally oxidizes the indigo ink creating a rich deep blue tone.
The finished piece — beautiful indigo ink design!