Will it Dye? Creating Dye and Watercolors from Nature

During this class, you will be exploring how to extract and create with colors that can be found in natural materials. We will consider materials that you might have on hand in your pantry, and will even explore materials that participants bring in or forage themselves.

Using kitchen items, we will coax out the color and create swatches with wool and cotton, modifying the colors with different agents. We will then attach the swatches to a card so we can record our process for future reference! Whatever dye bath we are left with will be used to create your own watercolor palate of 4 colors. A word of warning: this can be a stinky process. If you are sensitive to smells, please come prepared

Because “coaxing” does not happen quickly, we will have some down time to do some more formal learning and exploration of references, create some watercolor pieces with some already made natural paints, and have discussion about our personal experiences related to the topic!

Registration Includes

All instruction and materials are included. You will walk away with at least one reference card with wool and cotton swatches and a watercolor palette!

What goes into our class pricing? As a local nonprofit, Duluth Folk School is committed to supporting both our instructors and community. We want to compensate our instructors fairly, keep class sizes small, and keep our doors open—while also keeping prices as low as we can.

Thank you for participating in our local handcraft and education economy! Together, we help keep Duluth a fun and vibrant place.

Student Requirements

• Skill Level/Prerequisite Skills: No special skills required.
• Best for Age: 18 and older
• You should bring: All materials necessary for the class will be provided by the instructor. If there is a natural item that you would like to attempt to extract color from, please bring at least 1 cups worth of material.