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How to Do African Batik Art

Batik is the decoration of textile and the creation of art pieces by applying wax to cloth to block sections while dyeing. The wax is applied in a pattern and the cloth dyed several times to achieve a design. The sections of the cloth coated with wax resist the dye. Simple patterns can be dyed once or twice, but intricate patterns or scenes may have to be dyed six or more times. African batik art textiles are used for clothing, head coverings, wall hangings, table cloths and art.

Things You'll Need

  • White cotton cloth
  • Colored chalk
  • Colorless wax
  • Small metal pot
  • Colorfast cloth dyes
  • Hot plate or Bunsen burner
  • Stiff bristle 1/2-inch paint brush
  • Soft bristle 1-inch paint brush
  • Warm water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn on a hot plate or a Bunsen burner. Set the burner to medium to medium-high heat to melt the wax. Place some colorless wax, such as paraffin or beeswax, in the pot and place the pot on the burner. Use enough wax to fill the pot to the 1/2 mark when melted.

    • 2

      Prepare the first color of dye that you will use to create your batik design. Start with the lightest color first. Select a piece of plain white cotton cloth of any size.

    • 3

      Cover a table with newspapers to protect the table from the melted wax that can seep through the fabric. Place the fabric on the newspapers and smooth out the wrinkles. Draw a design on the cloth using a color of chalk that will show well on the white cloth.

    • 4

      Use a stiff bristle 1/2-inch paint brush to cover the areas of your design that will not be dyed. Outline your design with the wax by dipping the brush into the hot wax and quickly applying the wax to the chalk outline and areas that you want to remain white.

    • 5

      Allow the wax to dry completely. Use a soft bristle 1-inch paint brush to apply the first color of dye to the selected areas of the cloth or dip the entire cloth in the dye. Air dry the dyed cloth.

    • 6

      Apply wax to the areas of the cloth that you want to retain the first color of dye and allow the wax to dry. Use the 1-inch soft paint brush to apply the second color of dye to areas or the cloth or dip the entire cloth in the dye. Repeat the process of waxing and dyeing until the design is complete.

    • 7

      Remove the wax from the cloth by dipping the cloth in very warm water to melt the wax. Hang the finished batik to dry.

    • 8

      Remove the wax with an iron set on medium heat if you do not want to remove the wax with warm water and then wait for the batik to dry. Place newspaper below the batik and use absorbent paper towels between the batik and the iron. Iron over the paper towels until the wax is absorbed from the cloth.

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