Drawing on fabric - or, more correctly, batik - is not only a great way to try a new area of art, but also the opportunity to always have art with you: for example, by applying an exclusive drawing to your clothes, bag or any accessory covered with fabric. Also, a thing made of fabric, independently painted with paints, can be a wonderful and memorable gift.
Batik
Batik is a technique of painting on fabric using special non-washable materials. Such a painting has been used by the peoples of India, Egypt and Indonesia since ancient times. Batik came to Europe only at the beginning of the 20th century, in the wake of a fascination with oriental and Egyptian themes in clothing and accessories.
Batik painting has three main types. Hot batik is the oldest subspecies and is characterized by the use of colored wax as a reserve - a material that prevents the spreading of paints, with which the borders of the picture are carried out. The word "batik" in translation from Indonesian means "wax". Hot batik is best suited for cotton fabrics and is made using hot wax, which is removed after drawing is finished on the fabric. How to remove wax without damaging the picture, only an experienced artist or personal experience of trial and error will tell.
Cold and free batik
The technique of cold batik is the most common today, suitable for silk and other similar materials. This painting uses a special reserve based on gasoline or rubber. Gasoline is applied using a special glass reservoir tube, and rubber - from a plastic tube with a thin nose. Cold batik is created in one layer with a special aniline paint on the fabric (Decola is the most popular brand of such paints). The final drawing resembles a wet watercolor. Below is a silk scarf painted using this technique.
Free painting is also quite popular, but also the most complex - it is distinguished by performing on a wet canvas without first applying a reserve, which makes the pattern peculiar, with soft, flowing borders of colors. Applicable to silk and synthetic fabrics, also performed using aniline dyes or a mixture of oil and solvent.
What paint to choose?
As soon as you decide on the technique and type of material, you need to choose a paint for further painting. The most common and loved by both beginners and professional artists is aniline paint on the Decola fabric. It has a reasonable price and is suitable for all types of batik, and also has types that do not require the use of a reserve.
Silk paint is a good choice for a cold and free batik - the word silk means silk, which means silk is best used for painting silk and similar fabrics. It is very liquid, so a fixative is necessary for it. Paint company "Textile" also reports on the method of application by its name - ideal for textiles. It is thick and does not require fixing, suitable for painting t-shirts or furniture.
Tools for work
When painting in classic batik techniques, first of all, it is necessary to take care of the reserve. It can be made independently, but it is better to get it in an art store. Then, depending on the chosen technique, it is necessary to prepare tools: for example, a tube for a reserve and a brush. The stiffness and shape of the brushes depend on the style of the drawing itself, the batik technique used, the paint and the material on which it will be applied.
Preparation for work
Having decided on the paint, equipment and materials, you can begin to work. For beginners, it’s best to watch a few video tutorials or attend a batik master class.
First of all, it is necessary to wash the fabric, otherwise in the process it can sit down, ruining the pattern. Then the fabric should be pulled onto a frame or easel. If you plan to paint a piece of clothing, you need to create a layer between the front and back parts, for example, laying cardboard. So that the drawing does not slip while drawing on the fabric, somehow you need to fix it, for example, fasten it with pins.
Before applying the drawing to the fabric, you need to work it out on paper (including color solutions, since it is almost impossible to fix the same cold batik). You can transfer the template to the fabric using a stencil, soft pencil, chalk or erasable pen - it depends on the color of the material. There can be no patterns in the free batik technique - you need to improvise here, creating a pattern on the fabric.
How to work in batik technique?
The first rule of batik is slowness and caution. You can start the free technique immediately after bringing the fabric to the required moisture state. In hot and cold batik, first of all, all contours of the pattern are outlined in reserve. There should not be a single gap in the outline - otherwise the paint will simply flow out through it. When the circuit is finished, you should wait for it to dry completely.
And finally, creativity begins! For beginner fabric artists, paint in a tube is suitable - like a rubber-based reserve, it is applied through a thin nose, which prevents the appearance of unwanted smudges. In cold technology, work with a brush should be the same as in watercolor - the density and shades of the picture depend on the amount of paint. It takes longer to work in hot batik, but a little easier - here the paint is applied in several layers, it is possible to correct a mistake or color.
To draw on fabric, as well as on paper, is most important by inspiration. So do not be afraid - if you have an idea and desire, everything will work out.