13 March 2009

Batik and Pottery fun - part II







Another week flies by and I've spent over 6 hours of it at the art centre. Fun, but tiring too in this heat! I fretted most of Tuesday about what I should paint, but eventually came up with an ocean theme with lots of fish, coral, shells etc. An hour before the class I decided it was way too complicated, so quickly drew up another much simplified version and decided to save the first design for when I am a little more confident with the process! Just as well, as the route to producing Wednesday's batik was rocky enough! That tjanting is a devil to control - yes, I know, a bad workman blames his tools and all that, but hey, I did discover that perhaps one of the reasons I'm having so much difficulty controlling that fiendish tool is because the spout was bent over too much .... so the wax has been flowing out at an extra fast rate of knots and I've found it quite frustrating that I am unable to get my hand close enough to the fabric to get any real control. Been using it like that for two lessons and now they tell me!! Fingers crossed then that my next attempts will be an improvement! The pic above shows my painting drying before the second application of wax and more painting. By that stage I was wondering if it wouldn't have been better to have left well alone as it looked even more like something a child of 6 could produce! No photos of it now, but if it is not a total disaster, all will be revealed next week!



Here is last week's painting hanging out to dry after the process of fixing the dye by soaking the fabric in a water and sodium silicate solution, rinsing in cold water and then adding the fabric to very hot water with soda ash to loosen the wax. Finally another rinse out and it's done. Phew, creating batik is not for the faint-hearted, that's for sure!





Here are the experts at work again. That's better- this is how it should be done!



This week's pottery class saw us making yet more pinch pots (got to get the basics right!) and then having a first 'go' at throwing on the wheel. That's Mr Lam in the pic above showing us how it should be done! Then it was my turn, which was lots of fun but I have new found respect for all you potters out there! Centering the clay is really difficult, never mind controlling it as you try to form something.




LOL !!! I ended up with this odd 'vessel' which went straight back into the rejects bag for recyling!! Ah well, only another 20 years of practice then!!

11 comments:

  1. oh thats so great you showed your wonky pot! I relate I relate, only thing is, I kept mine, and fired them, and glazed them, and now use them to hold pins, and buttons etc in my art room. They look much better fired. I cant wait to see what you did keep!

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  2. Your batik photos and pottery are lovely, the light is so good in the photos, it shows off your work really well. You look like you are having a lot of fun and learning a lot. Thanks for your nice comment on my blog.

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  3. Caroline! I can't wait to see a closeup of your hibiscus batik! It's amazing. And your tropical fish certainly do NOT look like a child did it! It's gorgeous, too. The colors and broad shapes are perfect for that lazy, sunny, tropical feel. And your pottery -- haha, that's great. I'd say that's pretty good for your second week! Thanks so much for taking us along. :)

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  4. Thanks everyone for your encouraging comments! I have to keep reminding myself that it's early days yet and I should stop wanting to run before I can walk!

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  5. I remember trying my hand at this!! All of it went back onto the bag of clay :D

    I have the utmost repsect for master potters.

    I love how you're always trying different things!

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  6. P.S. Your batik is stunning! I can't believe that's your first attempt. Wow!

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  7. The art centre looks like a fun place to be, oh except for the heat. I hope to see you're projects complete, they look amazing so far. I love the colours. Congrats on winning the pigeon art too. geees... i never win anything ;)

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  8. Hello Caroline. Hope you have a great week:-)

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  9. STUNNING WORK!!!!! Those batiks are drop dead gorgeous!!!!! :)

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  10. Where is this place? I am in KL now and would like to learn to do batik. Thank you. Catherine

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  11. Hi Caroline, where is your pottery class held? Have been wanting to pick up this craft a long time ago but did not want to go to the classes in the malls ;-) Appreciate your contact for pottery classes. Many thanks!

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Thank you for passing by. I love to read your comments!

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