Small African Batik Painting - African Market 10" x 18"

Batik or batique is a method of fabric dyeing where the parts of the fabric not intended to be dyed are covered with removable wax. The fabric is then dipped in cool vegetable dye. The portions protected by the wax do not receive the dye, and when the wax is removed in hot water the previously covered areas display a light pattern on the colored ground. This laborous and time-consuming process can be repeated several times with successive areas of wax being added until the desired image is completed. The finished batik is usually used as a wall decoration, but batiks can be used in many other ways as fabric decor highlights.