Els van Baarle - Master Tutor

Silk dyeing and wax Batik workshop

5th and 6th September 2009

$275 inc gst materials fee to be advised ENROL SOON places are filling up...

Working with wax on silk.

In this workshop students will practice “layering” using wax and dyes several times. This will give an effect of depth.

Students will use traditional Indonesian tools like the tjanting and the copper stamp (tjap)to make contemporary fabric.

photo: silk fabric with batik and silkscreen

Working method

As a foundation for my projects I use flexible materials.

My favorites are all kinds of fabrics, soft as well as very sturdy that are difficult to work with. I change the white background into a myriad nuances of color.

The fabric is partially covered with batik-wax and then dyed.The wax is a resist wax, dyes can not penetrate the fabric.

By repeating this process many times, wax-dye-wax-dye, lots of color nuances will occur. It will also add more depth.

When the cloth if finished the wax has to be removed. This can be done by boiling the fabric or by having it dry-cleaned. On some pieces I use a silkscreen in combination with my wax techniques.

The same techniques are applied when I work on paper.

photo: silk fabric with batik and silkscreen

Artist Statement

My inspiration is based on antiquity and ancient times.
Remains of structures ravaged by wind and weather offer compelling observations.
On the surface of the cloth we discern subtle colors and textures.
This correlates to my technique of layering waxes and dyes. Paper and threads.
Just like an old wall reveals a treasure of details when observed up close, so does my cloth.
What at a first glance appears to be one color, becomes a layer of nuances when studied in detail.

Click here to view Els van Baarle's website

email info@beautifulsilks.com to enrol