This simplified batik art class is tailored to help students of all ages gain confidence in their individual artistic talents, help motivate, nurture, and enhance their individual creative abilities. Students will learn about how to make use of primary and secondary colors, and how these can be created through a controlled blending process on fabric. This knowledge will introduce them to the differences that emerge between blending and isolation of colors as a process of batik art painting. Students will learn basic batik art terminologies such as isolation, hot waxing, cold waxing, outlining, and the significance of the resist processes in the batik painting technique. With the help of different batik paintings, I will let students observe and comment on the techniques applied by other batik artists. Special emphasis will be given to Kenyan Batik artists. This will enhance student’s individual observation regarding technique, and style.

Limit 15 students, ages 10 and up.

Materials cost is approximately $45. Students will need:

• 4 packets of paraffin wax (example: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gulf-Wax-Household-Paraffin-Wax-16-oz-4-Pack/624206543)
• 1 pair of size 9 hard bristle brushes
• Four 1.5 inch hard bristle brushes
• One piece of 24x24” wooden “Dricore” Flooring underlayment (check your local hardware store)
• Aluminum head push pins, about 100
• Charcoal pencil or sketching pencil
• Salt – one teaspoon for each color dye
• Procion MX Dye (cold water dye for natural fibers): Red, yellow, black, turquoise, bright orange, raspberry - available online
• a 12” electric skillet
• VERY IMPORTANT: a suitable craft space away from a fan, food, or young children. NOTE: The wax will be heated to 200 degrees!

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