Tools for batik

The first step to create any work of art can be achieved by means of a lead pencil.

It is used to jot down the draft of the future masterpiece. Sometimes the work stops here. You may end up with the finished work that springs into the life of its own. After chewing your pencil for a while, you are ready to move further. But most of the time the draft is used for its consequent transfer to the fabric.

Brushes are used for applying paint to the canvas, and I believe it is the best job for them. Being fond of watercolours I often use canvas free-painting. Most frequently I combine free-painting at the start with the subsequent graphic drawing. These techniques can be combined in a very interesting ways.

Now it is time to stretch the fabric and to transfer the draft to it. Any technique will do — glass, plotter, etc. I simply use my eye.

Using glass tubes I apply resist to the fabric along the contour of the drawing.

Resist composition can be found in the specialist sources. I want to mention that it can be coloured as well. Resist is used mainly to separate variously coloured areas of the fabric. If it is achieved — congratulate yourself! Let's move further.

I roll a small amount of cotton wool on a flat wooden stick and secure it with a string. It is useful for filling large areas of fabric with one colour.