Batik (Bah-teek) is an ancient art method using wax, simple linen cloth, and several dyes. Pictures are made in a process which starts by selecting the locations of the lightest color i.e. white and then a progression is made to using darker and darker colors until the last color which is black.
A sample Batik made by a prior volunteer of many African species united under the baobab tree. It made it look a lot easier than it actually was.
The beginning: First I carefully traced the picture I had selected which was two lions admiring the sunset.
While we were tracing our pictures, wax was melted in a bunsen burner-like contraption.
Next, very carefully, wax is added using a paint brush to the areas that need to stay white.
After the wax has dried color is added to the picture starting with the lightest colors such as yellow. The painting is made completely wet so that the die does not spread through the cloth. All of the dyes are made from plants in the area.
Of course some help from Sam (our teacher) was necessary to keep the batik from turning into a disaster. The process of adding wax and adding darker colors is repeated until the last color (black) is reached. Then all of the wax is rubbed off and the painting is ironed, making it somewhat stiff and accentuating the colors.
Once the final product is reached small touch ups are made to keep the silhouettes exact and Voila!
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