Batik is part painting, part dyeing, part controlled chaos. Using hot wax and fabric dye, you will build an image layer by layer, creating colour, texture, pattern, and plenty of unexpected results along the way.

This two-day hands-on workshop introduces batik, an art form originating in Indonesia, and gives you the time to actually work through the full process. You will learn how wax is used to resist dye, experiment with different tools and mark-making techniques, build colour through multiple stages, and turn a piece of cotton cloth into a finished artwork.

No previous experience is required. Debqi will guide you through the materials, techniques, and recipes so you leave with both a finished piece and enough understanding to continue experimenting with batik at home.

About Your Instructor

Debqi is a mixed-media artist, chaos goblin, and enthusiastic experimenter who approaches art with one recurring question: “What if I...?” She loves exploring unfamiliar materials, combining techniques, and helping people get comfortable making something without needing to know exactly where it is going.

Workshop Rundown

Day 1: Wax, Resist & First Layers

• Explore the basic history of batik and how the wax-resist process works.
• Learn how beeswax and paraffin behave differently on fabric.
• Get familiar with tjantings, brushes, and other tools used to apply wax.
• Experiment with marks, lines, patterns, and found objects to create different resist effects.
• Prepare your cotton fabric and begin developing your design.
• Apply your first layers of wax and cold-water immersion dye.
• Learn the basic dye recipes and preparation needed to continue the process independently.

Day 2: Layer, Dye & Finish

• Continue building your artwork through additional wax and dye layers.
• Experiment with colour relationships, overlapping resist areas, and layered effects.
• Use additional tools and techniques to create texture and variation in the finished cloth.
• Work through the final dyeing and finishing stages with instructor support.
• Remove the wax and reveal the completed batik.

By The End Of This Workshop, You Will:

• Understand the basic process behind wax-resist batik.
• Know how beeswax, paraffin wax, and cold-water dyes are used together.
• Use tjantings, brushes, and other tools to apply wax and create resist patterns.
• Build colour and imagery through multiple stages of waxing and dyeing.
• Understand the basic materials and recipes needed to continue making batik at home.
• Experiment with different marks, textures, patterns, and colour combinations.
• Complete a finished batik artwork.

What We Provide

• Fabric: Prepped cotton cloth for your batik artwork.
• Wax: Beeswax and paraffin wax for creating different resist effects.
• Dyes & Chemistry: Cold-water immersion dyes, soda ash, and other materials required for the dyeing process.
• Batik Tools: Tjantings, wooden paint brushes, wax pots, pipettes for transferring and mixing dyes, and assorted objects for creating marks and impressions.
• Workshop Equipment: Containers, thumbtacks, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers or fans, and wooden frames used to hold the fabric taut while working.
• Experimental Materials: Coloured tissue paper for mark-making and bleach experiments, painter's tape for protecting the working frames from dye, and newspaper for removing wax during ironing.

What To Bring & Requirements

• Clothing: Wear clothes you do not mind getting wax or dye on.
• No Experience Required: This workshop is designed for beginners and does not require previous batik, textile, or dyeing experience.
• Time Commitment: This is a two-day intensive. Participants should plan to attend both consecutive days to complete the full process.

Event Details

• Location: Urban Art Collective Art Hub, 50 Bayswater Avenue, Ottawa
• Instructor: Debqi
• Level: Beginner / All Levels
• Maximum Capacity: 12 students
• Minimum Enrolment: 6 students required