Batik, Wax Resist and Textiles

The use of textile in art projects can create a wide range of results. Wall hangings and banners using wax resist and painting or dip dye batik are all popular. Weaving, printing and painting,tie dyed fabrics all give very pleasing results. The processes are satisfying to learn.

Harbour Primary School,  Newhaven

Projects for staff teams at two merging schools included designs based on the harbour. Pupils will wax and apply dyes to replace and this will replace the previous banner which depicted the old school logo.

The logo banner below has been  replaced by the full colour harbour scenes above.

Designs on fabric take on rich colours when the dyes are added as above and below in these stunning wall hangings from Harbour Primary School Newhaven Inset above and from Hawks Farm Primary School, Hailsham below.

Batik and wax resist are very popular mediums for school projects. Stunning wall banners and hangings can be created by groups of pupils. We use hot wax with pupils in year 4/5 and 6 only. Glue can be used as an alternative with younger pupils to create a similar effect. Wax dries very quickly and will resist. Glue does not. Gutta can also be used and a longer drying time is needed once again both create a boundary as opposed to a resist

The dyes can be applied by pupils in any year group. Some schools ask the older pupils to wax the design over  to a scale drawing and delegate the colour application to younger pupils who have a lot of fun colour mixing with dyes.

William Morris inspired textiles using

wax resist silk painting and blue batik

World War Two, Withyham Primary School

Pupils at St Michaels School, created banners based on World War 2: Evacuation of children and air raids. The Victorians. They also created a history time line. The work was fixed in the correct time period.

Festival Banners

Wax Resist and Screen Print combinations

These beautiful combination wall hangings were made by pupils from Buxted C of E Primary School.  They were part of a 10 school cluster group project organised by the Village School to combine Literacy and Art in  partnership with Art Techniques. These banners show the seasons, the elements and the link with traditional iron making from the village of Buxted in East Sussex.

Making the boarder by screen printing leaves in different colours.

Frant C of E School in East Sussex

In the banner below pupils used wax resist techniques to imitate the water section of a textile hanging to brighten up a long dull corridor space. The top part of the work was  screen printed with trees and was over 10 meters long.

Salehurst whole School Project

Pupils from Salehurst C of E Primary schools exchange gifts and learning experiences with pupils from a school in Malawi. The school banner below was made to mark the two cultures in these vibrant banners made with wax resist and screen printed images.

Textile Projects at Smart Art

This stunning hand painted wall hanging was made by pupls at St Marks C of E primary School.  Pupils also made cushion covers to match.