Batik is a way of applying differently coloured dyes to fabric in such a way that one colour does not bleed into another.Simply put it requires dye to be painted onto the fabric(in this case Liberty Tana Lawn cotton)then when the dye has dryed a coating of wax can be applied to stop other dyes from mixing.The "resist" is molten wax applied with a wax pen(Tjanting) and/or a brush.

The above process is repeated for the different coloured dyes which will be used in the painting. 

At this stage the Batik is ready to receive the darkest colour dye.Rather than painting this colour the whole of the fabric is pushed through a small bowl of the dye.

So some parts of the painting which were left without colour will now take up the dye from the bowl.At the same time "crackling" will occur in the wax resist as the fabric is pushed through the dye bath.Where "crackling" occurs the dye will seep into the fabric.

This image shows the painting being pushed through the darkest colour dye.

Now the whole painting must be left to dry making sure that excess dye is removed from the surface of the Batik.

When the dyes have dryed the wax is removed by ironing the Batik between sheets of kitchen roll.The wax melts and is absorbed by the kitchen roll.(useful for lighting log fires).

Looking closely you will see the random pattern created by the "crackling" of the wax.In this painting the pattern is quite delicate.To create a more emphatic "crackle" it is possible to be more vigorous when pushing the Batik through the final dye bath.

Using conservation grade board the Batik is presented in a white window mount.