Are you interested in interesting hobbies? Don't miss the opportunity to try one of the oldest painting techniques - batik. A little effort and you will have a real masterpiece in your hands.

Batik is the art of applying designs to fabric, known since ancient times. For many centuries, batik items have been highly valued, and the skill of some artists has reached incredible levels. It is interesting that in many parts of the world - India, Africa, Indonesia, Japan - the art of batik has traditionally been practiced exclusively by women. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the craft requires it painstaking work, attention to detail, as well as a subtle feminine flair in choosing colors.

History of magical craft

The first fabrics with patterns appeared in the 4th century BC. e.. These were the materials that the Egyptians used for the ritual burial of mummies. In the 7th century AD e. batik began to spread in China and Japan. This art has become widely known in Persia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Peru.

Perhaps the country most famous for its unique batik is Indonesia, where the art artistic painting the fabric took root back in the 12th century. There are about three thousand variations of traditional batik images here! The patterns are applied with wax - an Indonesian technology related to hot batik. Local residents have a special attitude towards this type of art - they still believe in its magical and healing properties.

For example, in a wedding ceremony it is customary to tie the newlyweds with a batik scarf in order to unite their souls together. And in these parts it is customary to wear babies wrapped in a painted scarf thrown over the shoulder. Indonesians also believe that batik has powerful energy and can even cure illness.

Great importance is also attached to the color scheme - it is believed that each color of batik can influence human nature in a certain way. For example, lilac-pink helps preserve beauty and prolong youth.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the art of batik became especially popular among some tribes in Africa, particularly those living in Nigeria and Senegal. The traditional Yoruba batik is called adire, which is still widely popular among Nigerians.

Following a centuries-old tradition, patterns are applied with starch paste using feathers, then the fabric is dyed with a natural indigo dye. Both casual and festive clothes are sewn from this fabric. At the same time, the drawings are a kind of code that carries the history of the tribe.

Another method of decorating fabric is also popular among African peoples: before immersing it in paint, it is stitched or tied in a certain way - this is how craftsmen get fancy patterns on the fabric. This method is also called “knotted” batik.

It enjoyed enormous popularity in the 60s and 70s of the 20th century among representatives of the hippie movement. Thanks to this dyeing of the fabric, bright psychedelic stains with a glowing effect appeared on the clothes of young people.

Types and classification of batik

Depending on the technique of execution, the following types of batik are distinguished:

• cold - for this technique, the outline of the pattern is applied with a reserve substance based on gasoline, rubber glue and paraffin;
• hot – the design is applied with a liquid wax composition (hot) not only to the outline, but also to each color; after finishing the work, the wax is removed using gasoline;
• knotted - the pattern is obtained by tying the fabric in a certain way (without using a reserve) and either dipping it in dye or applying it with a brush.

Cold batik technique

Hot technique

Sometimes in separate species They distinguish free painting, in which contour fluid (reserve) is not used, and the design is simply applied with paint.

The hot batik technology is more complex and labor-intensive, so beginners are better off sticking to the cold version. As for knotted batik, experimenting with this technique at home can be very interesting, and you can get impressive results the first time.

Features of the cold batik technique

Batik as a hobby is suitable for collected and patient people, since this process is quite labor-intensive and lengthy. However, having received the first results of your creativity, you will not regret for a minute that you chose painting on fabric. The batik technique for beginners is not much different from the technique for professionals. There are a number of requirements that must be met before taking on the job.

For cold batik it is good to have a separate workplace– a balcony or other well-ventilated room is ideal, since inhaling vapors of the reserve substance is not very good for health (it contains gasoline).

If you plan to use painted fabric for practical application(in the form of a scarf, tablecloth, etc.), then keep in mind that in this case an additional step will be required to fix the paint - otherwise, during the first wash, all the paint will be washed off.

There are several ways to secure it at home:

• baking the product in the oven at a temperature of ~ 150 degrees for 15-20 minutes (you need to put the product in a cold oven, having previously wrapped it in a white cotton cloth; after turning off the oven, the batik should not be taken out for an hour);
• steaming in a water bath without contacting the product with water or condensate (in this case, the batik is wrapped in fabric and paper several times, and then placed in a pan of boiling water so that there is about 5 centimeters to the water: or tied to the handles of the pan by strings, or attached to the mesh from above);
• fixing with an iron occurs as follows: every 10 cm2. ironed for 3 – 5 minutes (ironing mode must correspond to the fabric);

The success of fixing the colors also depends on the quality of the paints themselves, however, in any case, batik should only be washed in cool water with a small addition of vinegar.

What you need to prepare for your first lessons

Hoop or frame

If you are going to apply a design to a small area of ​​​​fabric, a hoop for you is suitable. If you want to work with a large format, you will need a special frame for batik or a regular stretcher on which you will need to fasten the fabric.

On the frame, the fabric is attached to special hooks, which usually come with it. You can secure the fabric to the stretcher using a thread and a needle so that the fabric itself does not come into contact with the frame. A simpler option is also possible: secure the fabric with buttons or a furniture stapler (of course, you shouldn’t do this with silk).

Textile

For batik it is best to use thin natural fabrics: silk, cambric, double thread. Thick fabric is not suitable, since the reserve may not pass through thick fibers and an “explosion” of paint will then occur in this place - one color will flow into the territory of another. It is better to opt for cambric.

Paper

For the preliminary sketch, you will need a sheet of thin paper the same size as the batik design area.

Materials and tools

Paints, a reserve substance, a glass tube for reserve - usually all this is included in a batik kit. Sometimes you can find contour liquid, ready for application, in the form of a tube with a thin tip. In this case, a glass tube will not be needed.

You can take a more complicated route - brew a reserve at home, and instead of a straw, use bottles with suitable attachments. However, cooking a mixture of gasoline and rubber glue is not only not a pleasant task, but also a fire hazard.

Therefore, purchase a ready-made set of materials from everything you need for batik - best option. The paints in it most often come in the form of a liquid, less often in the form of a powder that needs to be diluted with water.

When working with batik, it is best to wear a work coat or clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, as there may be problems removing paint stains. Brushes for batik should not be hard – soft synthetic or squirrel brushes are ideal.

From preparation to masterpieces

Stages of working on batik:

1. At the first stage, you need to tighten the fabric so that it does not sag; batik masters often prefer to stretch the material when it is wet - after drying it becomes more elastic;
2. at the second stage, the sketch is prepared - it is drawn on paper with a pencil, pressing well on the rod.
3. At the third stage, the sketch is transferred to the fabric - the paper is secured under the fabric so that the lines of the design can be traced on the fabric with a pencil (a soft pencil is suitable for this purpose).
4. At the fourth stage, you should outline the contours with a reserve - it will remain white (if desired, you can color the reserve using a suitable pigment); The reserve is collected in this way: the spout of a glass tube is lowered into a container with contour fluid, and a rubber syringe is inserted into the other end, with the help of which the liquid is sucked into the tube.
5. At the fifth stage, you need to check the contour - after the reserve on the batik has completely dried, you need to use a brush dipped in water to go over the entire design on one side of the contour, and after a few minutes check whether the water has crossed the reserve line; if you find places where the contour is weak, you need to go over these places with the reserve again after the fabric has completely dried;
6. At the sixth stage, batik is dyed.
7. At the seventh stage, the batik is removed from the frame and secured by baking, steaming or ironing.

After the end of the session, the reserve must be blown back into the container and the tube must be rinsed in gasoline, otherwise the remaining reserve substance will harden and the instrument will not be suitable for further use. It is good to frame the finished work in a frame with a wide mat.

An interesting effect is obtained from applying coarse salt to a damp dyed fabric - it leaves whitish stains, absorbing some of the paint. Sometimes, batik masters manage to create interesting compositions using exclusively this technique, even without using a reserve.

From hobby to pro

By painting fabric, you will certainly feel your involvement in high art. Batik as a hobby is especially popular today. This is due, first of all, to the fact that this type of creativity opens up enormous opportunities for self-realization for the beginning artist. By devoting time to batik, you will constantly be in search of new ideas, themes or techniques. And having felt the beauty of colors spreading over matter, drawing on paper will seem like a boring activity to you.

If you take your work seriously, you can soon become a real pro in this matter. Most people for whom batik is their main income-earning activity once started with it as a hobby. In addition, silk painting is still highly valued, and by using ours, you can make money from this hobby.

Art Nouveau style(from the French “new art”) arose at the end of the 19th century and was widespread in Europe, as well as in America. Another name for the style is modern. Modernism replaced eclecticism, which used combinations of elements from all previous styles. Artists and architects of modern times were embraced by common ideals and ideas, in which they sought to create something completely different from previous trends in art. And they succeeded! The source of inspiration and the basis of the Art Nouveau style was the use plant forms, stylization of natural elements. In modernity there is a departure from straight lines and angles, fluidity and smoothness appear.

Particularly prominent representatives of this style were such artists as Gustav Klimt, William Morris, Alphonse Mucha, Mikhail Vrubel, Leon Bakst, Edvard Munch and others.

Ornaments and elements of style immediately found their application in decorative and applied arts and architecture.

Art Nouveau existed for 30 years and then quickly began to fade away, but to this day its sinuous forms are used by contemporary artists in a variety of art directions, for example, in batik, decorative painting, and interior design.

So I invite you to join this milestone in the development of art and use it in your works Art Nouveau style patterns. Stencils can be used to create compositions, both in batik and in glass painting, interior wall painting and for any other purpose.

I’ll give you an example of how you can use these stencils in your work; my handkerchief “Daisies and Fishes” 90*90 cm 100% satin silk will serve as an example.

Animal patterns and floral patterns of daisies were used here, united by a single central composition of the scarf.

Experimenting with color and combining different stencils in a composition can bring amazing results in the form of beautiful Art Nouveau pieces!

Tulips using the Batik technique. Master class with step-by-step photos

Author: Maksimova Nadezhda Yuryevna MADOU “ Kindergarten combined type No. 239", Kemerovo
Description: this master class is intended for children older than school age, primary school age.
Purpose: a souvenir can serve as an interior decoration or can be presented as a gift.
Target: introducing children to the art of batik.
Tasks:
1. Introduce children to this type of arts and crafts as “batik”.
2. Learn to use fabric paints and contours correctly and carefully.
3. Learn to use the salt technique.
4. Develop the ability to do work step by step.
5. Develop visual-figurative thinking, imagination, fantasy.
6. Develop an interest in arts and crafts.
7. Create a desire to make a craft with your own hands.
Materials and tools required for work: wooden frame, buttons, piece of silk fabric, acrylic paint on silk, outline for drawing on fabric, sketch of a drawing on paper.

Painting fabric using the batik technique is not so easy. This is a rather complex and time-consuming process. But the work done using this technique is very beautiful and effective. In addition, the process can be simplified if the contour of the design is already applied to the toned fabric, and instead of a special reserve that is blown out of special tubes, special contours can be used. Children 5-7 years old are quite capable of creating their first masterpieces. Of course, it is better to choose a simpler drawing for the sketch of the first works.

The main stages of creating a painting using the “cold batik” technique:
- preparation of all materials for painting
- selection of fabric (preferably silk, crepe de Chine, or artificial)
- creating a sketch on paper
- stretching the fabric (pre-washed so that there are no problems with “shrinkage” in the future) onto the frame
- background fill
- transferring the sketch to fabric
- outlining the sketch
- checking that there are no leaks
- filling the main elements with color
- fixing the painting with an iron (sometimes this is not required, it all depends on the paints)

Usually thin, dense and smooth fabrics such as cotton and silk are used for batik. But you can experiment with synthetic fabric. The fabric must be washed before use.

We stretch the fabric onto the frame. I use a frame into which I will then insert finished work. But it must be turned over so as not to stain the front side with paint. Leave allowances on the fabric of 2-3 cm.

When starting to engage in a new type of activity, each person first studies this activity theoretically. Having learned what it is, he strives to try it. This is where the first problems and questions begin. Where to begin? The main question tormenting a newbie.
Batik in this regard is no different from other types of activities. Having learned the mechanics of drawing and the required materials, the beginner feels the need to paint his first picture on fabric. As you know, in order to apply the correct drawing, you need to imagine what should come out at the end. It is doubtful that a novice artist will be able to keep in mind both the method of drawing, the mechanics and the final drawing. To make this task easier, we have prepared a selection batik designs for beginners engage in this undoubtedly worthy art.
Of course, it is best to use simple graphic drawings first. Consisting of 1-3 colors. They will not be difficult to apply even to a person who is not very good at drawing. For example, such a butterfly can be printed on self-adhesive printer paper, cut out a stencil and, gluing it to the fabric, apply a reserve or paint.

All the stencils provided are monochromatic, but you can easily make them multi-colored; the images will only benefit from this.

And finally, a few more patterns that are perfect for painting fabric.

Usage templates for batik does not mean blindly redrawing ready-made plant forms and filling them with color. Although many novice artists can use this method in mastering a new craft.

Composing original compositions based on existing ready-made ornaments is no less difficult than the initial composition of these same ornaments. Successful combinations of ornamental forms in accordance with the laws of composition allow you to create a harmonious work of art. Therefore, sometimes an artist must have at hand ready-made templates for painting using batik technique or for any other applied art. A separate section is devoted to composition, which you can find on our website.

For example, in the composition of the Dahlia scarf presented below, various ornaments are used, combined overall composition. Here are dahlia flowers as such in the frontal projection and stylized ornamental motifs of the same flowers in the background. All this is complemented by dividing the general plane of the scarf into segments where one or another ornament is present.

As a rule, plant forms are stylized. Leaves, flowers, trees, individual plant elements, right down to stamens and pistils, undergo transformation. The heyday of stylization of plant forms in the history of art occurs, perhaps, in the Art Nouveau era.

An example of stylization is the sketches of Eugene Grasset, a representative of the Art Nouveau era. The transformation of plant form is based on a deep and thorough analysis of the natural form of the plant.

Let's take a look at some unique templates that you can use in your creativity. They can be printed for batik or glass painting ready-made or based on them to create a more complex composition.

The use of ornaments and patterns in work makes it easier to master composition and allows you to create new works of art.

Success in creative work!