A1 Batik African Mask by Wellington Academy

A1: Batik African Mask

For this assignment you will be tasked with the challenge of creating a piece of Batik Textile Artwork in response to the theme ‘African Mask’.

Please use this guidance paper for support and assistance during assignment 1.

A1: Batik African Mask

A cultural project/learning activity for year 7 pupils on the theme of Culture – Africa Masks & Pattern __________________________________________________________________

OVERVIEW: AIMS:

The aim of this (Culture) project is to provide you with an overview of the history and geography of the art of Africa and an alternative civilisation/way of life. ● During this project you will be involved in various experiences by using a variety of disciplines that will help you understand aspects of the African culture. ● This project will enrich your knowledge through hands on activities, as well as group and individual outcomes. ●

DEVELOPMENT: Through a series of sketchbook tasks, you will make a range of 2D outcomes that reflect different aspects of the African culture. ● Investigations and research of African artifacts will help inspire you and your own art work. ● The extended homework project which is undertaken in Assignment 2 will help develop your ●

use of language and literacy within your work.

A1: Batik African Mask

What is 'Batik'? Before you begin this assignment outcome you will need to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the 'History' of Batik as well as its 'Technique' and 'Processes'. Use this task to do some background research on 'Batik'. There are many websites available which give you step by step guidance as well as useful video tutorials to aid and support your work.

To begin here are some useful websites:

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Wikipedia The Batik Guild Images for Batik How to Batik Batik Art by Robin Paris

Examples of African Batik Art

A1: Batik African Mask

Design Ideas?

Plan and Prepare: Before you begin your piece of Batik Artwork you will need to explore your subject matter (In artwork, the subject matter would be what the artist has chosen to paint, draw or sculpt). Your subject matter for this outcome is 'African Masks'. In lesson you will be asked to create two possible 'African Mask' deisgn ideas for your batik artwork (A4 in size). One inspired by your own research of the topic and another in response to the work of others (Artists).

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To help you with this task you will need to conduct some visual research of African Masks. Remember always print out any visual research and present in your sketchbook. This shows your teacher your influences and the design process from A to B. (This research is to be used to support and inspire your own art work, for a higher level your mask designs should be original pieces of artwork where you have taken inspiration from the work of others and not copied them directly)

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When creating your designs it is important to make it clear how and why you have looked at the work of other artists and how they have influenced you and your artwork.

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When researching think about these questions:

1. Which artists have you studied? How has looking at these artists helped you to develop your ideas? 2. What other visual material have you studied? For example, photos, magazine clippings - and how have these helped you?

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Here are some sample comments:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Looking at (artist's name) has helped me because .............. I was inspired by their idea of ................ I found (artist's name) use of colour fascinating because ............. The large/small-scale of the work was interesting and useful for me to see because ............... I like the way that (artist's name) has shown expression in the facial features because .................. The geometric shapes (artist's name) used in his/her work has helped me to decide how to organise my composition because .............

A1: Batik African Mask

Design Ideas? continued........... Criteria for Success: "Drawing is a skill you can learn, like playing a piano or riding a bicycle. I honestly believe that 99% of people, if they really put their minds to it, can learn the skill of drawing. All you need to do is ask yourself these two questions: 1. How much do I really want to learn? and 2. How long, and hard, am I prepared to work?. There is no magic about drawing, just as there is no formula to becoming a Tiger Woods or a Cath Kidston.Whether its surfing, golfing, plastering, or sewing a dress, acquiring a new skill and becoming good at it takes time and effort. The plain fact is the more you do it, the better you'll do it." Marianne McPhie

For a successful mask design drawing you will need to consider the following:

Attention: Learning to draw is a question of learning to see - accurately. Pay full attention to what you are drawing. Draw what you see not what you think is actually there?

Your use of Line, Shape, Composition, Symmetry, Pattern and use of Colour.

Samples of African Mask Designs

A1: Batik African Mask

A1: Final Outcome: Batik Artwork? "............once the pattern is drawn, the waxing can begin."

During your lesson your teacher will explain to you the process in which you transfer your chosen mask design onto your cotton fabric. ● Once your design has been transferred you are ready to begin waxing. ● Before you start you need to familiarise yourself with your tools, and the step by step process of the technique. ●

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Use the Internet to find out as much as you can about your tools/materials and the process of Batik.

A1: Batik African Mask

Step by step process of a successful Batik:

1. Transfer your mask design onto your fabric. If you are feeling confident you can draw

2. 3.

4. 5.

your mask directly onto your cotton fabric lightly with a pencil. Or place your fabric over your design and trace your design through. Ensure your fabric is placed onto a plastic mat before you begin to wax not newspaper. Holding the tjanting tool in one hand dip into the melted wax pot (initially the tjanting must be in the wax for 30 seconds to melt any solidified wax and to heat the pen well up). Hold the tjanting tilted up to prevent drips (or hold a piece of scrap card in the other hand to solve the problem of any unwanted drips!). Place the tjanting's tip on your drawn contour line (pencil drawing) - without hesitating draw the line until the well runs dry or the wax comes out translucent instead of transparent (the wax is then too cool to penetrate the fibres of the cotton fabric). Always ensure the wax is penetrating the fibre. As your batiking, occasionally lift your

fabric off the plastic mat to see if the wax has gone right through the fabric. Return the tjanting to the pot and refill the well. Repeat the process until the contour lines are drawn in. 7. You can also block in shapes with the wax by filling in areas. Remember your batik doesn't have to be made up of just contour lines. 8. Once all the wax has been applied remove from the plastic mat and place onto some clean newspaper. Leave for 5 minutes for the wax too fully settle.

Step by step process of applying dye to your Batik:

1. Load up your paintbrush with your first colour. 2. Work from the interior of the space out to the edges - this way if your wax contour is not

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

fully sealed (cracks in your wax line) the dye will bleed through slowly instead of soaking completely into the next space. If you discover a problem, stop that section and continue with another. Once the fabric dries you can use more wax to seal the leak. Once you have sealed in all areas of one colour you must leave your fabric for a few minutes to dry. You can do additional colours if they don't touch the areas that you have just dyed. Remember too much wet dye can cause runs and leaks that will bleed colours into each other. Once the dye is dry you are ready to iron out the wax!

Step by Step process of ironing out your wax:

1. Place several layers of newspaper on your ironing service. 2. Place fabric on top of the newspaper and cover with several additional layers of

newspaper. 3. With an iron set on high, iron over the entire surface until the wax melts through the

paper. 4. Keep changing the paper as it becomes saturated with melted wax. 5. Continue this process until the newspaper picks up no more wax. 6. Once finished your batik could be made into a cushion, draw string bag or a hanging

piece of wall art. 7. See Miss Smith and attend Textiles Clinic on a Wednesday 3-4pm if you wish to transfer

your batik into one of the above.

Samples of Batik cushions and bag.

Do you have a smart phone? If so you can use the camera on your phone to access online resources to help you with this assignment. All you need is a QR code reader app, point your phone web browser to one of readers below: ● ● ● ● ●

http://reader.kaywa.com http://get.beetagg.com http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/download.asp http://europe.nokia.com/support/product-support/nokia-n80/phone-software/smartphone For iPhone users. Go to iTunes and search for: QR Code reader

Once you have a reader/ app on your smart phone. Simply take a quick snap of the code(s) below, and you will be redirected to the required resource, directly on your phone.

AFL: Assessment for Learning. ● Learn about the assessment objectives.

eGallery: ● Take a look at some examples of work for this assignment.

YouTube: ● Go to the Visual Arts YouTube channel and watch some amazing Batik tutorials.