November 2011 - Wendy Tatter October 24 2011

Although she was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Wendy Tatter always felt the call of the islands.  Abandoning her studies at Virginia Commonwealth University to follow her tropical infatuation, Tatter has lived in the West Indies, Mexico, and Central and South America. 

This month, Batik artist Wendy Tatter will be featured in an exhibition entitled “Images in Batik – the Art of Painting with Wax and Dyes on Fabric”

Tatter was introduced to the art of batik in Mexico while attending Instituto Allende.  Batik originated in Java and is an ancient technique that predates written records. It is a method of hand-printing on cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Simply put, batik is an old world method of color dyeing textiles… covering designated areas that are not to be dyed with molten wax.  

The basic process of Batik is simple; however the technique of Batik is a demanding one.  The Batik artist works intimately with color. If one wishes for a part to be light yellow, for example, all these parts need to be waxed at the same time before dying again.  The colors in batik are very bright with a richness achieved by layering different pigments.  In Batik each color used is significantly changed by the proceeding color.  The batik artist must start with the lightest color and work toward the darkest color.  The hot wax and dye play against each other in order to create interesting organic lines of their own.

Fascinated by the technique, Wendy has developed a style all her own, sometimes using as many as forty layers of wax and dye. Her work often reflects the people and places she has enjoyed throughout her travels; however she does welcomes commission orders and is especially known for her Batik painting of favorite pets.  Additionally, Wendy will be showcasing her beloved “Farm Yard Series”.  The whimsical quotes included with these endearing animals will leave you laughing or pondering. 

An Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.  The Artist will hold an Artists Talk and Demonstration on Friday, November 11 at 11:00 am.  Both events are free and open to the Public.  The exhibition “Wendy Tatter: Images in Batik – the Art of Painting with Wax and Dyes on Fabric” will run through November 26, 2011.