 It is possible to do batik with reception-age children using their drawings, but the first application of hot wax is applied by the artist or any willing older child or teacher. Children of this age enjoy painting on the colours and then applying the much bolder second waxing, using long handled brushes.
Franche Community First School, Kidderminster
The theme of this batik was butterflies, following a trip to a local butterfly farm. Again with this class the Artist drew and waxed the initial design and the pupils painted on the colours. Older pupils applied the second wax, and the reception children painted the last layer of dye.
Reception at Colwall Primary school produced a batik based on a Caribbean story “Why there are Flying Fish”. It was designed by the pupils, drawn onto the cotton, and outlined in wax by the Artist. Reception painted on all of the colour and waxed the bolder shapes during the second waxing.
Oldbury Park First School, Worcestershire
Pre-school & Reception worked on a 3-day project themed on ribbon dancing. The banners were designed from photographs and the wax painted on by the Artist. The pupils worked in small groups to paint on the dye. In the afternoon they then drew patterns using fabric marker pens in contrasting colours, to complete the banners.
Beech Green Primary, Quedgeley, Gloucestershire
Five batiks were created at this school, one by reception and year 1 combined.
It was themed on characters from children’s stories and waxed by the Artist and a few older pupils. All of the dye painting and 2nd waxing was achieved by reception and year 1.
Tenbury Wells School, Worcestershire
Year 1’s batik masterpiece was themed on a Brazilian story “How Night came from the Sea”. A small amount of detail was applied by the Artist but these youngsters had been encouraged to draw a lot, which meant that their co-ordination was excellent. |
