Vintage Batik Print, "Brownstone Afternoon," by Dikki deals Helsland

--Vintage Batik Print, "Brownstone Afternoon," by Dikki Helsland
--Soothing batik depiction of a brownstone neighborhood on a late fall or early winter afternoon in the city
--The batik print bears Van Helsland's signature or monogram, but there is no other personalized signature or number.
--Gold tone aluminum frame is in good condition with some scratching and normal wear
--Mat is wavy and should be re-done. Let us know if you want us to fix it or if you'll take care of it. Re-matting will cost about $25.00 and add about one week to order processing.
--Print and glass appear to be in good to very good condition
--Wired for hanging
--Frame measures approx. 16-1/4" W x 20-1/4" H x 1-1/2" D
--Image measures approx. 8" W x 12" H

About the Artist, Dikki Van Helsland: (Borrowed from the artist's website, https://www.vanhelslandart.com/about)

"I was born in Hungary, and lived in Germany for a few years prior to arriving in the United States with my family in 1950. The arts were important and very evident throughout my childhood. My parent's love for art and gardening nurtured my desire to create floral designs especially the desert cactus flowers of Arizona.

"While my basic art ability is self-developed, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Fine Arts Degree from Old Dominion University, Virginia. My work experience includes design, silkscreen, and faux decorating for deals an interior renovation company. I have also done faux wall art for private residences and completed large floral murals for a commercial building. I am commissioned each year to do batik house portraits for a Washington DC real estate broker.

"My goal is to create works that intrigue with color and bring an emotional response within the viewer. At this time I am focusing on southwest and horse themes. My work has won numerous awards, and has been shown in galleries in the US and Europe.

"I have participated in many batik workshops including a Batik World Conference and Surface Design Conference with other renowned batik artists. My batik workshops and demonstrations spread an understanding of this unique art form."

About batik. (Borrowed from the BatikGuild website)

"Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming more popular and well known in the West as a wonderfully creative medium. The art of decorating cloth in this way, using wax and dye, has been practised for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. The word batik originates from the Javanese tik and means to dot.

"To make a batik, selected areas of the cloth are blocked out by brushing or drawing hot wax over them, and the cloth is then dyed. The parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the original colour. This process of waxing and dyeing can be repeated to create more elaborate and colourful designs. After the final dyeing the wax is removed and the cloth is ready for wearing or showing.

"Contemporary batik, while owing much to the past, is markedly different from the more traditional and formal styles. For example, the artist may use etching, discharge dyeing, stencils, different tools for waxing and dyeing, wax recipes with different resist values and work with silk, cotton, wool, leather, paper or even wood and ceramics.

"Batik is historically the most expressive and subtle of the resist methods. The ever widening range of techniques available offers the artist the opportunity to explore a unique process in a flexible and exciting way."
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