Not 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…
DIY Watercolor and Gouache Paints with Cornstarch
10th October 2023Explore the art of crafting watercolor paints with readily available kitchen staples. Introduction Watercolor painting is a beautiful and expressive type of art that captures your imagination. However, high-quality artist-grade watercolor paints can be quite costly, making them an aspiration that’s challenging to attain for many, especially in regions where art supplies are scarce or economic conditions are modest. The Spark of Inspiration The inspiration for my cost-effective watercolor paint recipe was sparked by the narrative of one of my…
Thank you for taking the time to peruse my blog. I am delighted to offer you a cordial invitation to join my exclusive and engaging Masterclass Webinar titled “Botanical Dyes, Pigments, Inks, Cultivation, and Foraging.” Delve into the captivating world of botanical colours, unveiling nature’s extraordinary range of hues. Empower yourself to create sustainable botanical pigments, elevating your artistic creations. With engaging slides and insightful discussions, this seminar opens the door to remarkable possibilities in natural pigments. Experience the transformative…
Easy Natural Dye Plants to Grow on Your Balcony
23rd May 2023For years, my balcony has served as a sanctuary for my gardening adventures. I’ve nurtured an array of plants, from blooming flowers to aromatic herbs, vegetables and salads, creating a miniature oasis amidst the urban landscape. But it wasn’t until last year that my gardening journey took an exciting turn. I was granted a small piece of land, a patch of earth to call my own. With this newfound space, I couldn’t resist the urge to experiment with something new…
A Beginner’s Guide to Eco-Printing: Learn How to Create Art with Natural Materials!
25th January 2023In 2019, I discovered the art of eco-printing while on a week-long camping trip to the coast of Algarve in Portugal. Despite writing an article about my experience at the time, I never got around to publishing it until now, four years later! During our trip, we came across a small village called Alté. It was so charming that we decided to make a stop and explore the village. As we were strolling through the narrow lanes of this charming…
Which paper is best for writing with (Natural) inks?
17th January 2023Paper is a versatile medium produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibers extracted from wood, fabric rags, grasses, or other plant sources in water. The water is then drained through a fine mesh to leave the fiber evenly distributed on the surface, followed by couching, pressing, and drying. There are many different types of papers available today. The range of papers that work well with water- and alcohol-based natural inks is too vast for this article to explore. In…
How to Make Watercolor Binder
17th May 2022A step-by-step guide to making gum Arabic based watercolor binder for handmade watercolors The use of Gum Arabic as a binder dates back to ancient times. The presence of Gum Arabic increases watercolor brilliancy, gloss, and transparency, giving greater depth to each color. It slows down the drying time of paint, and can also be used for controlling spread when painting wet-on-wet. Watercolor paint is made by dispersing pigments of any colour in different proportions with acacia gum binder. The…