Explore the art of capturing nature’s colours using plant pigments, an easy and conscious way to interact with the outdoors and create your own colour palette. In the quiet corners of our surroundings lies an untapped treasure trove: nature’s own vibrant palette. Imagine wandering through a lush garden, city parks or along a forest trail, where each leaf, bark, and petal holds its own unique hue, inviting us to pause, discover, and connect with something timeless. I recently rediscovered a…
The Enchantment of Dyeing with Japanese Indigo
9th October 2024Blue has always been one of my favorite colors, and my first encounter with the magic of indigo took place in the 1990s at a cottage industry exhibition in New Delhi, India. At the time, I didn’t know much about natural colors; all I knew was that the fabric was dyed with vegetable dye—a term that felt foreign to me. But what truly captivated me was the stunning blue of the indigo—it was mesmerizing. Indigo has a fascinating history, woven…
How to Paint Loose Watercolor Florals Using Natural Pigments
21st June 2024A few years ago, I published an article as a guest blog post and almost forgot about it. Recently, I stumbled upon my old article and decided to share it with the creative community of my blog. In this post, I’ll show you how to create beautiful loose watercolor florals using natural pigments, with easy techniques that both beginners and experienced artists can enjoy. I often receive inquiries about incorporating natural colors into artistic endeavors. While natural pigments do have…
In the realm of blue pigments, both natural and synthetic options offer distinct advantages and appeal to artists, manufacturers, and consumers alike. While natural pigments evoke a sense of tradition and craftsmanship, synthetic alternatives provide reliability and versatility. Ultimately, the choice between natural and synthetic blue pigments depends on individual preferences, artistic requirements, and ethical considerations, highlighting the diverse and dynamic nature of the pigment industry. This blog post compares and contrasts the qualities and allure of natural blues with…
Extracting Lake Pigments from Safflower Petals
20th March 2024Safflower is an intriguing botanical specimen for pigment extraction due to its chemical composition and historical significance. From a single plant specimen one can obtain two distinct colors. Over the last two years, I’ve been attempting to cultivate safflower in my natural dye garden, not just to gather the petals for making edible flower salt, but also to extract natural pigments. The first year showed promise as the plants produced gorgeous buds; however, they were scorched by the extreme heat…
Japanese Knotweed: A Potential Natural Dye and Pigment Source
22nd February 2024Not long ago, I ventured out to forage for Japanese Knotweed roots, a perfect endeavour on a chilly day as I sought respite from sports and craved exploration amidst the cold, grey winter landscape. While I had previously experimented with extracting colors from the leaves and stems of Japanese Knotweed during summers, my curiosity was piqued after delving into some research articles. This time, I was eager to dig deeper, quite literally, and uncover the potential for color extraction from…
A Guide to Color Mixing With Natural Pigments
26th January 2024Welcome to my latest blog where we’ll embark on the fascinating journey of mixing primary colors, focusing on the enchanting realm of earth pigments such as red, yellow, and blue ochres. For many watercolor artists, this process can be both a source of frustration and delight. Surprisingly, some artists steer clear of this aspect, missing out on the joyous exploration that color mixing can bring to their art. If you haven’t delved into this realm yet, rest assured – it’s…
Foraging Natural Pigments in the Crisp Winter Season!
15th January 2024In the winter season here in the Northern Hemisphere, where the plant life is dormant, nature unveils a serene and peaceful beauty. While some may be reluctant to venture out in the cold and gray, if, like me, you have a fondness for the outdoors regardless of the season, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover numerous plant sources. These can be harnessed to create beautiful, long-lasting Natural Inks and, perhaps, Botanical Pigments. Within this article, I am divulging some…