Lisa Telling Kattenbraker

In these contemporary batiks the traditional elements are combined with experimental approaches in wax combinations and temperatures, as well as applications. Local Beeswax and Parafin mixtures are applied to cotton fabric with tjanting tools and brushes. Each piece has over 100 hours of wax applications. The fabric is submersion dyed and hand dyed using fiber reactive and natural dyes, and is dyed and waxed over 30 times. Small bits of other pieces from the series are cut out and sewn onto the final piece.

The story pieces are created using color, pattern, somewhat iconic images, and faceless figures that invite the viewer to bring his or her own emotional moment to the piece.

The finished batik is floated and framed using archival materials.