Creative interpretations: Montana Lake

[raniday]

Craig, here are a couple of pieces that I consider "batik" style. I've played a little with actual batiking; it's messy and creative and fun. I used a tjanting tool, like a small dipper with a spout on the bottom, and I dipped up melted paraffin, drew designs on fabric, and when it was cool, I added the dyes. Digital batik results are similar but with none of the mess

http://www.pbase.com/catbounds/image/40576641
http://www.pbase.com/catbounds/image/41641269

[Kraellin]

catherine,

thank you! and thank you for including the explanation of what a tjanting tool is. i'm a bit of a nut about words and their definitions.

like i said, the name batik sort of rang a bell and now that you've explained it further, some old, deep memory is stirring about having seen this process before, or read about it... or something

does the parafin get melted back out after the dyes set?

Craig

[Janet Petty]

Kraellin, in answer to your question: Yes. The was is removed each time a new color is added so that a new part can be covered/uncovered for dyeing. I plucked a quick example of a batik dyed piece off the internet. I hope this helps.

Janet

[raniday]

does the parafin get melted back out after the dyes set?

Yes, Craig, after the dyes have dried, the paraffin has to be removed. As you can imagine, it's stiff and gloppy (technical term there). Of course large operations have their own ways of removing it, but I lay it between layers of paper towels or flattened brown paper bags and iron it again and again, till the paraffin has melted into the blotter papers. There are other "resists" besides paraffin, and some of those can be tossed into the washer to remove them.

And like you, " i'm a bit of a nut about words and their definitions" myself.

Janet, I think you forgot to include your link, dear girl.

[Janet Petty]

I included the link; but it didn't make it. I've had that happen a couple of times lately; and not just on this site. Looks like it is time to bring in the computer guru (i.e. my husband, the whiz) to find out why these sites aren't taking my links.

Sorry about that folks.

Janet

[Kraellin]

some impressionist and other stuff.

Craig

edit: (looks better uncompressed)

[Duv]

I like it Craig. Really vibrant!

Here's one I tried to create a cooler autumn feel.

Filters Unlimited: Japanese Rice Paper texture.
Impressionist: Style:Sumi-e Fine Ghost Brush Brush:watr1a Smudge 7 Pressure 192 Faded back to 20%
Changed to LAB. Color marked a green in the trees then took readings of an orange color I liked. Changed the a and b curves to match new numbers then used Blend If to allow other colors back through.

Cheers

Dave

[Kraellin]

thanks duv,

i like yours as well. you know, as soon as i saw it and your mention of rice paper, i thought, 'you know, that would look really cool with the rice paper effect removed in ps and actually printed on rice paper'.

janet, catherine,

thank you. i thought that would have to be the case, but wasnt sure.

it also reminds me a bit of a similar thing i saw recently on chinese theatre costume making. these can be quite ornate and are all stitched by hand. and, in one process they coat the stitching afterwards with, i think it was starch (or something close to that), to preserve the stitching. not the same as what you're talking about, of course, but you reminded me of it with the explanation of batik.

Craig

[raniday]

Dave I really love your results! I don't fully understand your steps, but I've copied them down and plan to give 'em a try.

[Duv]

Thanks Cat. Let me know how it goes. I hear ya..I'm not a terrific communicator but I do have fun!!

Cheers

Dave