Crayon Batik Directions

Creating a colorful batik is a fun project for parents and children.

The history of batik art can be traced back to Asia, India and Africa. It is an art process where wax is applied to a surface, usually cloth, and then dyed. The wax is then removed, leaving vibrant colors and beautiful designs. For parents that are looking for a simple, fun art project to do with their children, creating a beautiful batik is ideal. It affords the opportunity to spend valuable time together and often results in a piece of artwork worthy of framing. Batiks make colorful, personalized gifts for teachers and family members. Batiks can also be cut into decorative bookmarks or greeting cards.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Plastic bowl
• Black tempera paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Sketch a design on an 8.5-by-11-inch or 11-by-14-inch piece of white or cream colored paper, such as computer paper. Draw lightly to keep the lines less noticeable in the finished batik.

2. Fill in the sketch, using a heavy layer of crayons in a variety of colors. Unwrap the crayons so the sides and tips of the crayons are usable. Success depends on a thick crayon layer covering the paper. Any paper without crayon on it will be painted over at the end of the process, so it is important to cover the entire paper with crayon. However, you may choose to leave some areas without crayons for a dramatic look. This is a personal choice.

3. Dip the completed drawing gently into a bowl of room-temperature water. When the drawing is totally immersed, carefully crumple the paper into a ball. Crinkling the paper creates the cracks in the crayon that gives the batik look to your completed design. The more the paper is rumpled, the more cracks result. Remove the paper ball from the water. Gently squeeze out excess water. Open the paper and lay it out, design facing up, in its original shape on a washable surface.

4. Paint over the entire design, wiping away excess paint with a paper towel. If a thinner paint is desired, add a small amount of water to the tempura paint until the desired thickness is achieved. Allow the painting to dry.

5. Place the batik between two sheets of plain paper and press, using an iron set on medium heat. Stop ironing when the design begins to appear on the top plain piece of paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Any dark tempera paint color will work well with the batik process. The paint must be very dark. Paint that is too light will not create the contrast necessary. Applying additional paint layers will also help to darken the look.

• If the batik paper is torn, tape it on the back when it is dry.

References

• Eco-artware.com: Make a Multi-Color Super Crayon -- Create No Fuss Paper Batik Art
• 1 World Sarongs.com: Short History of Batik
• Murnis.com: How To Make Batik
• Batik Markets.com: Batik Frequently Asked Questions