Working with Wax Batik

A friend and I have enjoyed learning a method of wax batik from a local artist, Mark Mulfinger.  I started with my own drawing on unbleached cotton and a wide band of wax on the borders.

 I added wax to the areas I wanted to remain white, then applied the dye and hung to dry.

 You can see the areas of green that I preserved before a new color was applied.

Many more other colors were added in a sequence which created this piece, entitled "Coral".  The piece is brighter than it appears in this photo.  It has been a fun and challenging experience.

Mono Printing with Dyes

A few years ago I took a workshop with Sue Benner.  We were experimenting with different methods of directly applying dye to fabric.  I really loved making mono prints and have since made several dozen.  Here are a few of my favorites:

"Blue Coneflowers" is a fairly large piece: 42" x 42" and made of silk.  It was drawn freehand with thickened dyes and other layers of unthickened dyes were also applied.  The dye was placed on a large table and the silk placed on it creating a mono print.  Free motion quilting added to enhance the design.  I love the look and feel of the silk.  It adds a soft luminescence.

 Another, smaller silk mono print, "Glowing Aloe" measures 20.5" x 21".  I used a similar process to the one above, though I was able to use a large piece of plexiglass as my surface for the dye. The silk fabric and golden colors really make this piece glow.