BATIK

I am the oldest of two very talented artists. Arts and craft work was always there growing up in Western Mn.  After graduating college with a degree in Graphic Arts/ Journalism, I moved to Mpls, Mn. There I was a graphic artist for 10 yrs.  While married and raising two sons I went back to school to receive a degree in Special Ed.  During those 25 yrs of instructing, creating art was always in the background with acrylic painting, stitchery, photography, and whatever I choose to dabble in.  It wasn't until retiring in Frederic, Wi that I was exposed to Batik.  After a few workshops I was hooked.

   The reason I enjoy batik the most is, the element of surprise.  Batik is a well known art medium from Indonesia. Batik consists of fabric, dyes, and a wax resist used over and over again to develop layers of colors while enhancing the image at the same time. Batik can be very unforgiving, once the wax is on there is no removing it, or covering it up like you could with paints. The piece is constantly changing as the work progresses.  You never know what exactly it will unveil until the last wax layer is removed. Hence the surprise!

Hope you enjoy my work.