Chris Taylor - Batiks

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(Click image for enlarged view)                                               Batik           The process of Batik starts with a design that is transferred onto fabric. I use cotton muslin, but silk, or rayon may also be used. I use a fiber-reactive dye that chemically bonds with the fabric’s molecules to create pieces that are vibrant and colorfast. Wax is used as a resist, much as you would use a resist in watercolor. In Batik, several steps are necessary to create the contrasts and values needed for an exciting painting. I call them paintings because in the end they are matted and framed to be displayed as Fine Art. And the process bears many similarities to other fine art media such as oil or watercolor. A fabric ground that is stretched on a frame is used, as in oil painting. Pigments can be applied with a brush or sponge, and a resist is used, as in watercolor. What sets Batik apart from other media is the fine crackling effect produced by the wax and dye. This cannot be replicated in any other media and is both unpredictable and exciting. More About Batik        Batik is most closely associated with Indonesia, Africa and the Caribbean. The colorful patterns are seen most often as clothing and other textile products but today’s batik artists are moving the ancient process into the modern world. Examples of Batik as Fine Art can now be seen in Museums and Galleries around the world. Batik is one of the oldest known methods of applying design to surface. Wax is used as a resist to the dye, and intricate patterns are created as the dying process is repeated over and over. A separate dyebath is required for each shade of color, and an overnight drying period make this a time-consuming process. The batik artist uses ancient techniques and modern technology to apply the dyes and wax to fabric. While there are many similarities between the batik process and other mainstream mediums such as oil or watercolor, the batik process creates a finished piece that is unlike any other. As the wax cools and is handled, cracks appear. Dye seeps in under the wax to create the veining patterns in the finished piece. These patterns are a unique aspect of Batik and cannot be replicated by any other method. I'm continually experimenting and moving in different directions with the creative process. My vision is to create images by simplifying patterns and shapes. I hope to share my enthusiasm with viewers of my work so that they may also feel the excitement of the creative process.

©2006 Chris Taylor 2006