Sandra Charles

I believe that each person has a gift that he or she must share with the world. My art is my gift. Batik is a technique that involves using dyes to color your image with wax as a resistance. The process involves dying from the lightest color to the darkest. Wax is applied to the lightest color, the material is emerged in the next darkest color, dried and the process is repeated until the last and darkest color is applied. Once this is done the wax is removed. The mosaic appearance is caused when the wax cracks and the dye seeps onto the material. While this process is very time consuming, I find it very satisfying because it merges a craft with fine art to create a unique visual art.

The theme of each piece is generally taken from my life experiences with colors used to express mood and gestures to express a feeling. Because of this, I have several clients who have commissioned special batiks to set a mood or a tone for their home or office. I get a sense of great satisfaction when I know what I am expressing in my art has a positive effect on someone.