Batik

Batik process.

This experiment was used to take my zentangle pieces in a new direction, this technique is simple but gives amazingly beautiful results.

Method:

1. First gather your equipment which is your batik pot and your canting tool. Turn the pot on so the wax has time to melt while you're designing your pattern.
2. Next get a piece of cloth and with a pencil carefully draw your design, be aware to not make your design to delicate and detailed as the canting tool has a wide nib. Don't forget to place sugar paper under the cloth as the wax can leak through.
3. Once you've done this and your wax has melted, you can begin to draw with the wax. To do this gather the wax into the top of the canting tool (looks kind of like a bowl). This allows the wax to flow through the tool and pour out of the nib. You will have to keep refilling this as the wax runs out quickly.
4. Then you can draw your pattern, using the tool as if it was a pen.
5. After you've done turn off the wax and leave the cloth piece to dry.
6. Next you need to select your coloured cloth dye, and paint over the pattern anyway you like. For me I used a paint brush and split the pattern into sections.
7. Leave it to dry again until its completely dry.
8. Then you need to remove the wax to do this you'll need to gather an iron, sugar paper and news paper.
9. Turn the iron on and allow it to heat up, next you need to place the news paper down then sandwich your design between the sugar paper, then place that on top of the news paper.
10. Begin to iron over the top of the sugar paper. Make sure to keep turning the sugar paper and when it becomes too wet change it for a different piece.
11. The idea behind this is to iron it until there is no more wax left on the design.
12. Once all that is done you need to clean up your area.

Health & safety 

1. Be careful when using the wax, if you burn your hands, wash them under cold water.
2. The same goes for the iron, if you burn yourself run the area under cold water.
3. Make sure you clean up after yourself.
4. Be careful using the dye avoid getting it on your clothes.