Batik artist Cindy Wilson will speak Friday, Feb. 7 at Butterfield Garage Gallery in St. Augustine. During her 6 p.m. presentation, titled Midnight in the Garden of Indigo, she will discuss learning to use indigo dye for batiks.
The many shades of blue, and the extreme lightfastness of indigo, intrigued her and after researching batik techniques using indigo, dye vats soon took over her studio. Dying with indigo is both science and art, she said, and batiks have a haunting stillness, revealing an incomplete visual story. The images encourage the viewer to see the familiar in a new light.
Wilson’ process of building colors directly on the fabric is unique and creates the depth of color seen in her batiks. “Balancing the technical process while keeping a feel of spontaneity is my overall focus as I work on a piece” she said.
A natural artist from an early age, Wilson graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of North Florida.
After a 30-year career as an award-winning graphic artist and owner of a full-service design firm, she retired in 2013. She initially learned batik from a workshop with Wendy Tatter in St. Augustine and was so charmed by the technique she began to exploring batik on her own. Wilson now works most days in her studio, experimenting with wax and dyes.
Wilson has been included in many regional shows and her batiks grace the homes of many collectors around the country. She teaches her technique in classes at The Bascom Center for the Arts in Highlands NC, as well as locally.
