Batik is the process of applying designs to silk or cotton fabric through the use of substances such as hot wax, rice paste or mud and successive dye baths.  These substances act as a resist, meaning that when the fabric is dyed, it retains its original color wherever the resist has been applied. When the final dye bath is done, the fabric is either washed, boiled or ironed to remove the resist and expose the finished design.   

I use 100% cotton and usually a mixture of equal parts paraffin and bees wax to achieve a fairly high level of crackle characteristic of this particular art form.  The crackle effect is produced when dye seeps into the cracks created in the wax when the fabric is folded, crumpled or creased during immersion into the dye bath.  Interestingly, the crackle effect that is so appealing today was originally thought to be a flaw and early artisans endeavored endlessly to keep any cracks from appearing in their work.

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