Workshop | Beyond Barbara Leighton's Batik
Workshop Title: Beyond Barbara Leighton's Batik
Time: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Description: Further discover the Magic of Batik! Held in our historical Schoolhouse Art Studio, this workshop is designed as a more intermediate approach to the textile art of Batik, which originated in Indonesia as far back as the 12th century and was the first art course that Barbara Leighton taught when she opened Leighton Art Centre in the early 1970s. Batiks are crafted with a technique that uses hot wax and dye to create stunning patterns on a piece of fabric, such as cotton, silk, or linen. During the workshop, you will be introduced to a variety of techniques - both in applying wax with different tools and applying dyes. Joanne Smith will teach you a more “painterly” batik approach that allows for a wider selection of dye colours and shades. The Magic of Batik is revealed at the end when the wax is ironed out of the fabric.
Audience: 16+
Level of Experience: This workshop is suitable for those with some previous batik experience, such as the workshop Learning to Batik like Barbara Leighton.
Supply List:
Participants need to bring/ purchase:
- Dye-resistant gloves (multiples if disposable)
- Closed-toe shoes
- Project ideas or photographs (optional)
- Lunch, snack, & water bottle
Instructor Biography:
For batik artist Joanne Smith (BEd, BBS) of Diamond Valley, Alberta, creating art in a diversity of forms has been a lifelong passion; inherited from generations of highly creative women, and deeply inspired by a school field trip to Leighton Art Centre in 1978. Her fascination with batik was re-sparked a few years ago when she taught the technique to her high school art students. Since then, she has travelled around North America taking workshops to enhance her skills under the tutelage of various Batik Masters. She has written articles for The Batik Guild and has had her batiks featured in their newsletters and calendars. Her batik entry received honourable mention in the 2024/25 International Year of Batik competition and is featured on their website.
