Batik

"At a table with two colleagues, all of us finding it difficult to start, we became very helpful to each other, sharing sellotape and helping to stretch fabric. Eventually we settled down...

"I began to scratch marks from a drip of wax. In a few squiggles it blossomed to make a chrysanthemum like head. I scratched some more and thought of my small, isolated attempts to love myself. I wanted these to be linked and so scribbled a net.

"Next I splashed the dye about and was surprised how interested I became in the colour development, yellow, orange and red for the flowers seemed simple immature love, the blended greens of the background looked like vegetation and the edge of blue completed and framed with more maturity. I really liked the piece, I felt very happy to find love for myself"

"Batik was a very wonderful and unique experience. I was totally absorbed"

"I had real fun with this batik. It was my first time in the medium so in a way I could let go of my professional eye. The squiggles and blobs just happened and before I knew it I was jumping over a massive wave with the biggest smile on my face. I left the session feeling that way" "Working with batik I found quite easy to do. The wax flowed quickly and seemed to create itself on its own. I tried to keep my mind blank of any thoughts and work instinctively. The results were surprising and once colour was added it all seemed to come together in a pleasing way. The finished piece seemed to me visually to be a composite of earth, air, fire and water, a recurring theme in my work."

"Dripping wax, not in control of where it will fall. Vibrant radiant colours flow across the material expressing emotion, sometimes."

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