Batik Painting

This afternoon, the 3 BIGS and I went to do some Batik Painting.  Batik is a technique using wax to prevent color from reaching the cloth---a similar concept to using rubber bands when tye dying.

Typical Malaysian Batik has images of leaves, flowers and geometric shapes.  Generally animals and humans are not used since Islamic art doesn't use them.  However, the butterfly is the exception.

We did our projects at the Craft Complex in KL, and there were many animals to choose from along with scenes of the Petronas Towers and flowers.  Hannah asked if they had a cheetah and the very friendly woman looked through her book and found one.  I am so glad she did because it was really neat to watch her trace the picture with the wax!

 To get the wax on with such detail she used a canting(an Indonesian tool) for applying the wax.

I wasn't going to do one because my painting skills are way below average. Once I saw the process in action I decided to try it out.  It was amazing how well the wax kept the color in each section.  You just had to touch your brush to the tiny sections and the color was absorbed on to the cloth.  The only time I used full brush strokes was to fill in the background spaces.

 Flat Stanley came from Iowa to stay with us for a few days, so he tried it too.

 The studio was pretty full while we were there.  It is open from 10-6 daily--even on public holidays.  We called ahead to make an appointment and we had a table waiting for us.  I would recommend calling ahead to the manager...012-257-2344.  I would also wear old clothes....Macy had a few splatters on herself.  Also, bring some water...The space does not have AC, but it wasn't terribly hot.

Kaylee and Macy both got a little overwhelmed by the end of their projects.  

It was a lot of white space to fill.  They each took a little break and I helped out once my project was done.

 Hannah did a batik project last year in art, so in the car on the way there she was telling her sisters all about it!

1 hour and 75 RM($25) we had 4 matted batik projects. 

The girls' large cloths were 15 each and 5 for matting.  My smaller project was 10 and 5 for matting.

 This will definitely be on our list of things to do when we have out of town/country guests, or when we have an in-service day at school.  You can also have private parties with 25 pieces for 500RM...I think that may be in our future!!!

Before leaving Malaysia I think I will have each girl do a gecko and frame it for our next playroom.  Then, we can always remember our little Malaysian lizard friends!

Life is Good with Art!!!