Description of

Batiks By Mary Leu

Working In The Ancient Art Of "Wax Writing"

Southwestern Themes Or By Commission

Batiks Defined

Batik As An Art Form Explained

Batik is an ancient craft dating back at least 2000 years. "Batik" is an Indonesian word meaning "Wax Writing". The process involves cloth, wax and dye.

The fabric is dipped or painted with wet dyes, then dried. Those portions of the material, requiring that particular color or dye, are waxed out, making that area impenetrable to other dye colors. The unique cracking patterns you see on each piece happen when the wax crack at each dying, allowing the darker color of dye to seep thru. The design and colors are built with additional dyeing and waxing, until the entire piece is completed. The wax is then removed from the piece of cloth. As the process is done by hand, each batik is an original and no two pieces are ever the same.

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