Batik Artist Robin Paris - Abstract, Environmental and Wildlife Art

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Batik Art - Robin Paris

Wildlife and Environmental Paintings

Batik was a wonderful personal adventure in 1990 in Malaysia, where I learned the technique from Malay contemporary batik artists. I have lived and worked in batik from my Bodmin Moor studio in North Cornwall since 1992, when I returned to Britain after nearly five years of travelling in Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

I have exhibited in Germany, Belgium, Belarus, USA, and across Britain. I run batik courses and workshops for schools, community groups, arts and environmental organisations and art societies. I also give talks and lectures.

Inspiration for my art and workshops comes from my travels and from the wealth of the Cornish countryside. Natural history, environmental themes, cultural heritage and sense-of-place feature strongly, as do allegory, colour, design, texture and pattern.

What is it about batik that makes it addictive? It is a multitude of things - brilliance or subtlety of colour; working with and manipulating two mediums, wax and dye, to produce layers and textures; the necessity to plan and occasionally to adapt. Perhaps it is as much to do with the need for infinite patience - batik is certainly Slow Art!

Endeavouring over the last few years to create a sustainable batik practice has brought about changes in my work, most notably dyeing with woad, a renewable natural plant dye and Europe's original indigo.

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