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Lesson Plans


Re: flourpaste batik?

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Nalin (nalin)
Sat, 18 Jan 1997 11:25:00 -0700 (MST)

Rosa,

The book, Art from Many Hands (Zepher Press) replicated a calabash paste
using flour, alum (used to make pickles; in the spice area of grocery
store) and water. It must be cooked to thicken and put into a narrow tip
bottle. I have used old glue bottles for wide lines and new hair coloring
bottles for narrow designs. A good thick application is best to resist the
dye.

I don't remember the exact ratio of water, flour and alum, but I do
remember having to increase the receipe several times (maybe four) for a
class of 24.

This is from the African Arts section of the book, so we have created a
series of boxes (traced squares) on old white sheet fabric and in each box
is a different line/shape design or simple outline drawings of animals
(fish, birds, lion head) or other nature drawings (sun, moon, star, leaf)
works very well.

Lorena Nalin

>I am wondering if anyone is familiar with flourpaste batik? I did it at a
>school I was visiting many many years ago but don=B4t remember it very well=
.
>I seem to recall a paste made from flour and water and? was used as the
>melted wax in real batik and used on muslin (cotton ) and then painted or
>dyed. I would really appreciate some info on this and also on paper batik.
>Thank you so much in advance. Regards Rosa