This was my first time teaching a Batik class and it was good!
I'm amazed to realize how far I have come in this art form since I started learning it about three years ago. When you put your mind to something you can always do it.
So I had four excellent students, all artists (and adults!) :D That is a change for me who is always teaching art to children. It's so nice to hang out with people of like age and mindset and working on art together! It's the one thing I miss about art school - my colleagues.
So for the workshop I taught the basics of creating batik. The most challenging seemed to be conquering the Tjanting tool and getting the wax the right temperature ( we were painting outside) the wax must be hot enough to penetrate the material but not too hot where it is uncontrollable and spreading out - as in when you touch the tool to the material to make a line the line spreads out too thick. Everyone was confident and creative in their ideas and drawings which was a great relief! Basic drawing skills should be a requirement in this class and most adults have this so as long as you can make a straight line and a circle you can do batik.
I took some pictures of the class so I wish I could post them all here! I did post them all on my Instagram so check that out under pomegranate batik.
We drew and discussed faces and the different methods of creating batik, submersion technique and dye painting application. Also accept and relish the happy accidents that will and do happen with batik, no matter how long you have been doing this. We discussed how batik is a great medium for perfectionists, like oil painters ah hem, because you cannot be perfect with batik you just have to let go and let the wax and dye do its thing. The results are always interesting and satisfying with batik, especially the submersion technique. Batik makes you a better artist.
I brought my vintage leather suitcase full of batik for the Mind Set Apothecary store so there is new merch on hand there RIGHT NOW! However, that amazing Green Faerie jean jacket I created some months ago was purchased right away! Several people there wanted it. A request for more jean jackets of this type were forthcoming. FYI I had this jean jacket on my site for months! Of course I haven't paid for advertising in about a year, and that really makes a huge difference.
But I am inspired to make more jean jackets with faces and fabric paint..Queen of Wands perhaps..
So it was a big yes to the Summer Batik Workshop and I'd do it again, or workshops in other places perhaps. It was inspiring for me and hopefully my super talented batik students will continue and carry the torch with batik into new realms
Also.... I stayed at an amazing airbnb in Vashon right on the sea ..... it was of course magical and healing! I really want to just live on the sea.