Shark Shawl, batik on silk by Kate (Mary Catherine) Ford. Proudly exhibited in the ENDANGERED Art & Photography Exhibition Fashion Show in December. From the beginning, the ancient process of using a wax resist with layers of dyes on fabric has struck me as almost magical. The creation of multiple colors resulting from mixing only a few, excites me now even more than it did then.

My subject matter has been the same since I started my creative journey-animals and our natural world, and recently architecture aspects.

None of the other mediums- gave me the same openness and uninhibited hand that batik does. I let the wax flow freely with some direction, but not enough to impede the spontaneity.

Experimenting with different dyeing techniques has lead me to discover a new found love-Low water immersion. Pure dye is added to the fabric, with very little water. The result is a fantastic ebbing and flowing of pure color throughout the piece. Each piece is a happy accident. The uncertainty of the final product is the highlight of my creative process.