Bali Batik Painting Workshop in a Local Village

Our Batik Painting Workshop Experience

First, we met Gus (the art master) and his wife, a warm, friendly couple who welcomed us with a refreshing ginger tea.

The entire workshop takes place in their garden, in shaded seating areas with a roof to keep things cool.

We spent around 2 to 2.5 hours working on our pieces, but next time we would book 3-4 hours. The timing of this workshop is flexible, so you can choose how long it lasts.

You can contact Yande here on WhatsApp at +62-881-363-9848 to book this directly.

No time to read now?

No worries! Save on Pinterest to read it later.

Save to Pinterest

Note: As you paint, you’ll see chickens walking around freely, dogs resting in the sun, and birds singing from cages around the garden. While we personally don’t support keeping birds in cages, this is a very normal part of village life in Bali.

Gus, the Art Master

The art master (whom everyone respectfully calls Gus) has a master’s degree in art and has taught creative arts to local students for decades. You can tell immediately that this is not just a hobby; it’s his life’s work. Watching Gus demonstrate made it look effortless.

Another teacher also assisted during our workshop. He didn’t speak much English, but through gestures and demonstrations, everything was easy to understand.

Learning How to Paint Balinese Batik

Each of us received:

• A cotton cloth
• A simple pencil design is already sketched onto the fabric
• Two beginner-friendly design options to choose from
• A canting: A small copper pen with a tiny spout that’s used to scoop up melted wax and carefully trace the pencil lines

What we quickly learned about working with wax: it isn’t easy, but it’s so fun! We really loved learning this traditional technique, which has been part of Indonesian culture for generations.

• The wax has to stay hot
• Your hand needs to move steadily (my lines were sometimes too heavy, but Nick had a very steady hand – probably because he’s a photographer 😉)
• If you pause too long → it drips
• If you move too quickly → the line becomes thick
• If your hand shakes → the wax shows everything

So not easy, but we got better!
After finishing the wax lines, we moved on to painting (my favorite part!). The wax acts as a barrier, keeping the color within the shapes. It felt extremely meditative, just painting and listening to the sounds of nature in the garden.

Gamelan & Traditional Dance

In addition to batik painting, the art master also offers a brief introduction to gamelan music and Balinese dance if you’d like to extend your visit. We tried both!

Gamelan

The traditional Balinese percussion ensemble you hear during temple ceremonies and village celebrations. The instruments vary in size, creating different tones and rhythms. A full gamelan requires at least seven players, and sometimes many more during larger ceremonies.

Balinese Dance & Masks

The traditional masks represent different characters: protectors, spirits, and even demons. They are often used during ceremonies like Galungan and Nyepi. Gus used beautiful masks passed down from his father. We had a short dance session, learning a few basic hand and posture movements.

How to Book this Batik Painting Workshop

Because this is a small, local experience, it’s best to arrange it directly through Yande. He knows the art master personally and can organize the timing (and optional add-ons like gamelan or dance). If you’re already planning to join his cultural village tour, this batik workshop pairs perfectly with it.

• Duration: We spent around 2 to 2.5 hours working on our pieces, but next time we would book 3-4 hours!
• Location: The workshop takes place in Klungkung Regency, about 30 minutes from Sidemen and 1 hour from Ubud.