WAX RESIST is a technique that uses a waxy art material to repel, or resist, a water based media. With CRAYON WAX RESIST a wax based crayon is used to draw on a piece of paper, and then watercolor paint is applied on top of the wax drawing. The wax protects the paper and keeps the watercolor paint from sticking to the paper. The colored waterpaint flows around the wax and leaves an interesting texture behind. Oil pastels work for this technique as well.
Examples of crayon wax resist:
Another type of WAX RESIST is called BATIK. In batik, an image is drawn on fabric using hot melted wax. When the wax cools, the fabric is put into a pot of dye. Any area not covered by wax changes color to the dye color. When the cloth comes out and is dry, more wax is applied over areas of the new color, and the cloth is dyed again. This repeats for every color in the artwork. Once all the colors are preserved and the dyeing is done, the wax is boiled or ironed out of the fabric so it can be used.
Traditional Javanese batik
Sample of different batik designs from contemporary artist's sketchbook