Workshops & Talks

Come and discover the Magic of Batik with international Batik artist, Rosi Robinson. Batik is a traditional Far Eastern resist technique of decorating fabric, using wax and dyes. You will learn how to apply hot liquid wax with traditional and contemporary waxing tools; how to mix colors; and how to apply washes of colorful dyes to fabric and paper. You will learn how to build up a design starting with the lightest color, building up to the darkest, how to create textures and how to remove wax at the end of the process to reveal a beautiful textured design or picture.

Come and discover the Magic of Batik with international Batik artist, Rosi Robinson. Batik is a traditional Far Eastern resist technique of decorating fabric, using wax and dyes. You will learn how to apply hot liquid wax with traditional and contemporary waxing tools; how to mix colors; and how to apply washes of colorful dyes to fabric and paper. You will learn how to build up a design starting with the lightest color, building up to the darkest, how to create textures and how to remove wax at the end of the process to reveal a beautiful textured design or picture.

As part of the Batik Guild's 40th anniversary we are holding a series of workshops and talks at Claire Drewe's Studio and Chambres D'Hôtes on the edge of the Loire Valley in France.  The theme will be sustainability and workshops will be held in natural dyes and using caps with natural dyes.  There will also be a day of talks and a mini exhibition and Open studios on the 14th July. 

Introductory Batik Workshop: Learning to Batik like Barbara Leighton

Held in our historic Schoolhouse Art Studio, this workshop will be led by Joanne Smith, whose own connection to batik began with a school field trip to the Leighton Art Centre in 1978. This workshop is suitable for those with no batik experience and those who vaguely remember learning batik way back when in art class! 

Fee: $85 CAD

“This workshop is unique in that it coincides with the Great Sandhill Crane Migration.  During the Spring, over 700.000 sandhill cranes migrate and rest within a 20 mile radius.  According to National Geographic it is considered the greatest natural phenomenon in the North American Continent.  I plan this workshop every year at this time.  People come from all over the United States and spend a few extra days experiencing the cranes and the excursions.” 

This workshop is a beginner to intermediate Batik Workshop: Beyond Barbara Leighton’s Batik

Batiks are crafted with a technique that uses hot wax and dye to create stunning patterns on fabric, such as cotton, silk, or linen. During this workshop you will be introduced to a variety of techniques and tools used to apply both wax and dye. Joanne Smith will teach you a more “painterly” batik approach that allows for a wider selection of dye colours and shades. The Magic of Batik is revealed at the end when the wax is ironed out of the fabric.

Leighton Art Centre 282027 144 St, Millarville, Alberta, Canada T1S 0Y4

https://leightoncentre.org/

The Pacific Northwest Art School on charming Whidbey Island, WA is working with me to offer a great five-day Ro-Kata and Han-bosen workshop June 23-27. Here's a ideal chance to delve into the Japanese batik process, learn their unique wax stencil process as well as the half-resist technique. Its a professional level workshop but beginners to advance students can be accommodated. Contact kiranada at kiranada03848@gmail with any questions and sign-up soon with pacificnorthwestartschool.org