What Is Batik?

As many art and crafts students would ask “what is batik?”

Well, Batik is simply an artistic method of designing fabric usig wax and dye.

What Is Batik?

Batik is both an art and a craft that is becoming increasingly popular and well known among contemporary artists around the world as a wonderful creative medium.

The art of decorating fabrics with wax and dye has been practiced for centuries in many parts of the world, including China, Japan, India, South America and Europe.

On the island of Java, an island in Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the best batik fabrics in the world are still made there.

The word “batik” comes from the Javanese word “tik,” which means “dot.”

Batik is both a verb (batik) and a noun (batik is an object made by batiking).

Batik is usually made on a fabric surface (such as cotton, silk, linen, viscose or hemp), but batik techniques can also be used on paper, wood, leather and even ceramic surfaces.

Batik is traditionally the most expressive and subtle of all resistance techniques.

The ever-expanding range of techniques available gives the artist the flexibility to explore the unique process in a very exciting way.

The batik process brings unexpected elements of surprise and delight, which is why many artists find it so fascinating and even exciting.

How It Is Done

To make a batik, certain areas of the design are blocked by applying hot wax to them, dye is applied on top, and the waxed parts resist the dye and remain the original color.

A simple batik can be just one coat of wax and one dye, but this waxing and dyeing process can be repeated many times if necessary to create more complex and colorful designs.

After the final dyeing, the wax is removed (usually in hot water) and the fabric is ready to be worn or displayed.

Key Use Of Batik

Batik is a method of dyeing fabric with wax to protect certain parts of the fabric so that these parts do not absorb the dye.

The wax is used to create patterns on the fabric and is removed after the dyeing process. This can create a marbled or dyed effect on the fabric.

These are the key concepts of Batik in pattern making process.

Credit:

https://www.batikguild.org.uk/batik/what-is-batik