Would you like to add a new painting technique to your art tool box in 2022?
Have you been interested in trying a new painting process but have been afraid to learn?
Want to have fun with a centuries old craft that makes great art?
Want to create art that can be decorative as well as useful?
Batik and its sister Japanese process rozome (row-zow-may) can be a new art medium you will enjoy!
This course is for adventurous beginners as well as artists who want to try a new painting medium and experiment with making art in an unconventional manner.
If you have tried to work with the batik process before and haven’t liked the results you achieved, I can help you to become inspired to try again and create art that is fun, unique, and even useful!
When I first started batik back in high school, I had no one to teach me the ins and outs of painting with wax. I started with melted crayons, india ink and rit dye on old cotton sheets. I spent many years trying different forms of batik on different fabrics until I created a process that provided me with great results.
In this class:
- Learn the language of batik painting.
- How to select the best reference images for your paintings.
- Learn how to select the right fabrics that play well together with wax and dye
- How to prepare silk (my favorite fabric for batik) to be more vibrant when dye is applied
- Create affordable drawing and dying tools that can create unique effects.
- Experiment with different styles of wax application.
- Create art on fabric that can be used as clothing, material, wall hangings, framed artwork, or even useful home accessories!
Here is what my students have been saying
"I have always been interested in learning how to do batik. I have admired the amazing pieces done by Muffy Clark Gill, and when I saw she was doing a 3 day workshop at Aya Fiber Studio in Stuart, I immediately registered. I was a little apprehensive since I knew nothing about the process, but I was immediately put at ease by Muffy's thorough explanations and individual attention she gave each of us. She taught us numerous techniques we can use, and provided the encouragement and inspiration to go home and get to work!" Eloise
“I discovered Muffy Clark Gill on the Internet. I was interested in a private class and Muffy and I worked out an arrangement to accomplish that goal. Muffy enhanced my knowledge of batik techniques, taught me about design, and had a wonderful resource library to use. Muffy is patient and kind, has a wonderful sense of humor, and encouraged me to enhance my basic batik skills with new approaches using ancient Japanese techniques for batik. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and I highly recommend Muffy Clark Gill to mentor and guide you with batik”. Michele L
“I remember my love of batik and the bright colors and mystical appearance of my high school batik project. I loved that finished project but LIFE interrupted and my creative process was put on hold. Muffy’s class was excellent. Not only did Muffy share the Japanese batik process she uses, she was very helpful in answering all my questions about her career as an artist. While I learned the batik process in my sessions with Muffy, I also learned to have confidence in my current work, relax and enjoy the artistic process. and not be afraid of failure. Muffy finds artwork everywhere in her life- happy accidents on a paper, test swatches, spilled wax on the work table. Mary Beth S
Class Information
- Course includes three 90-minute sessions, instructions, and private links to videos.
- Sharing the history of batik and explaining the different ways of painting with wax and dye
- PLUS a 30-minute personal critique of your finished art projects! For the first 5 students to sign up, they will receive an extended private session of one hour!
- Some hard to obtain Japanese brushes and supplies handouts. and drawing exercises are also included
- A student supply list will be included so that you are ready to create in your own setting.
- This will be a hybrid class which includes pre-recorded sessions and live online instruction
- There will be a student handout include that outlines the techniques you will be learning
- Class critique of finished projects
- Three 90-minute video sessions and two pre-recorded video demonstrations
- If you can’t make all of the live sessions, don’t worry--you will have access for 3 months to the course curriculum and video recordings of class sessions.
- Live office hours during the class session and email for questions you might have
- Class supplies will be shipped in advance so you are up and running for your first session
- Class is limited to ten students so that I am able to provide ample feedback.
Muffy Clark Gill
I have been practicing the art of batik since 1970, when as a child I visited the west African country of Uganda and attended an art exhibition featuring batik. I was hooked on the style and returned to the US with an interest in learning more! I basically taught myself and even won a Scholastic Art Award for one of my first paintings using batik of an elephant! Later on I took additional batik workshops and several workshops with rozome artist Kiranada Sterling Benjamin. and John Marshall. I have a BS degree in Graphic Design from Boston University. I have been teaching this program in person for the last four years. My work is in several museum collections, public buildings, and in the office of the Florida Secretary of State.
Recently I received the special designation of Master Silk Painter by Silk Painters International, a worldwide organization that promotes the fine art of painting on silk. I have also contributed articles to their magazine: The Silkworm. I am a member of FiberArtNow, the Surface Design Association, and the National Association of Women Artists.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What if I can’t afford this class? Please contact me and I can see how we can make it work for you.
- Will you be offering other classes in the near future? Yes, I have several other classes in the pipeline for you to learn more about batik as well as creating interesting compositions for your artwork.
- Where can I find the supplies needed for this class? I will provide you with a list of batik and silk suppliers
- How will I melt my wax? You can purchase an electric frypan, electric fondue pot or temperature controlled heating device at a thrift store or you can order this one from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lSTnAx
- What will I need to remove my wax? Plain newsprint and an old iron should be on hand. (It will be listed in the supply sheet)
- What is included in the instructor provided supplies A wax drawing brush, a Japanese dye brush, 5 dye packets, soybeans, soy/beeswax combination wax, instructional handouts, color mixing chart and a drawing exercise. I will have some other products available for purchase.
- Do I have to have any experience working in batik? No, this class is for beginners and experienced artists
- Do I have to work with silk? Can I bring other fabrics? For this class we will be working with 16mm silk. You can later apply these techniques to cotton, wool, linen or rayon.
Questions? Please contact me: [email protected]