After an alarming (!) start we got down to creating some vibrant batik on Saturday.
We were in the studio space of Action Space the charity I volunteer for, which is also amongst the studios at Cockpit Arts. It was the perfect venue to get very messy with dyes and wax.
I'm showing some of the final pieces of fabric after the wax was removed. We had to leave them overnight to dry up and also for the dye to fix itself to the fabric.
I have to say that they all turned out rather brilliant. The light is shining through them in this picture so it makes the colours even brighter. But the dye held rather well, ironing helps too. I got everyone's fabric in the pictures! Let me know what you think...job well done I'd say.
And now for the processes involved...some waiting for things to soak, the magic of science and then applying the wax and the dyeing of course.
This was the waxing table and below a batik tool close up called a tjanting, it helps make finer lines as you are drawing with the wax.
After the wax was applied, the fabric needed to sit in a 'fixer' (water and soda ash) so that the dye would stay in the fabric once washed out.
Next up the dyes, probably the best part, mixing different colour dyes together on the fabric and experimenting. A psychedelic colour range to choose from.
After this, it was a waiting game, covered in plastic so the pieces didn't dry out. They had to soak in the dye for at least two hours. Perfect time to head out for a well earned glass of wine!
And I can't resist another couple of pictures of them all together in the afternoon light.
