Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

Start by preparing a separate screen or stencil paper for
each colour using one of the methods—indicated in the
section associated with screen printing.
Assuming that the task undertaken is on a low cost budget,
a paper stencil, a soft sponge, fabric or a cloth material and
printing ink (paste) or colouring dyes from plants can be
enough for a start.
Almost always, colours chosen—are expected to be few,
at least not more than three. Reason being that the more
colours you use, the higher the costs of printing and
production.
Since each colour is separated on a full component of a
mesh, or a stencil. Apart from that, use a light table to draw
each colour on a stencil separately. Light tables are different;
they are made in a horizontal or tilted box. On top, there is a
translucent glass with a light behind it. As an alternative you
can use the ordinary window containing a transparent glass.
After that cut out each shape of a colour on a stencil. The
shapes must be exact.
If all colours at hand are well represented on separate
stencils; fix each one of them on a separate mesh in precise
positions. Print one colour at a time with the assistance
of a sketch and follow the provided guides presented as
registration marks.
Screen A
Screen C
Screen B
Screen A:
The �rst colour; (Black) is printed
Screen B:
The second colour; (Red) is added
on top of black
Screen C:
Yellow colour is printed last; to
�nish the print.
How to make a simple batik
The inexperienced learner should be guided on how to
make batik in this way:
Start by making a sketch and where necessary add some
few colours in the sketch. Belfer (1992, 26) observes that “A
certain amount of preliminary thinking is always necessary,
but a complete coloured” sketch “can be very restricting if
used as a model to be duplicated in the batik process.”
However, your favourite painting or drawing can also be a
good starting point for the necessary sketch. And surely,
as learner your first batik may not at all time produce
satisfactory intended results.
That is to say, save materials to make a new one soon
after, or when you realise that you are unable to meet the
expectations of the task at hand.
Here are some tools and materials, which may be needed to
make the batik artwork:
Bucket with water A clean cloth Source of heat, stove
Sketch Sisal brushes Pins
Paraffin wax Dyes Iron box
Salt for fixing dyes
A tin for heating
wax
Sheets of old
newspapers
A cloth or fabric meant for a batik artwork should be clean
white. If possible use a pure cotton fabric. An already
coloured cloth material may cause wrong interpretations of
colours after sustaining colouring dyes.
Transfer the sketch by drawing it on a cloth in a suitable
larger size preferred. As you transfer the sketch, it is feasible
to eliminate most of the unwanted details—keep only what
you think is worthwhile (detail) as you pay serious attention
to the essential elements and principles of design. “In batik,
line and shape formations are the initial design elements
considered.” (Belfer 1992, 26)
After sketching, make ready the (cloth) surface of the batik
by mounting newspapers on one side of the cloth or fabric.
That is to say, papers should be fastened or pinned below/
under; not on top—where the outlines of a sketch were
earlier on drawn.
Then, lay the pile (of the fabric and underpinned paper)
down on a clean flat surface. After that, boil wax.
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