Natural Pigments for Paints and Inks

Join us for this two day course which covers the making of plant material into natural inks, and earth pigments into watercolour paint.

Over the weekend, you will learn about the alchemy and variety of mordants which enhance and transform natural ink material into a range of different hues and colours. You will use plants - utilised for centuries to extract dye for fabrics and to make inks for painting with.

Day 1 - Fiona will teach you how to transform flower petals, leaves and tree material into a large palette of colours from vibrant primaries to a variety of beautiful subtle hues including browns, grays and blacks, some of which you will forage from the garden. By the end of the day you will have made up to 11 colours which can be experimented with on 100 percent cotton rag paper.

Day 2 - Fiona will guide you in making a set of 6 watercolour paints from earth and mineral pigments, some of which Fiona will have foraged and processed in advance. You may find some oxides in Hawkwoods grounds which could be used during the session. By the end of the day you will have the opportunity to paint with these handmade watercolours on beautiful 100 percent cotton rag paper.