Botanical Alchemy: Exploring Extraction Methods for Natural Dyes and Lake Pigments
Dye plants are remarkable factories of color, biosynthesizing a rainbow of hues for natural dyers, inkmakers, and lake pigment lovers.
Not scheduled right now. Last taught 2026.
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The workshop
Dye plants are remarkable factories of color, biosynthesizing a rainbow of hues for natural dyers, inkmakers, and lake pigment lovers. How do we make the most of these natural resources, eliciting the broadest range and maximum yield of color? Join Natalie Stopka for a five-day exploration of dye extraction methods utilizing plants from the dye garden and beyond. Inspired by recipes from historical dye works and pigment manufacture, we’ll undertake a case study of four plants and four extraction methods: digestion, decoction, fermentation, and tincture. Learn which methods are suited to which plants, and how extraction methods influence dyeing and laking procedures. Participants will leave with a laboratory notebook (provided) documenting our 16+ extractions utilized as dye and pigment, and a personal project: ink, paint, or dyed fibers to fold into their own studio practice. They will also take with them the knowledge to extrapolate our analysis and findings to other plants in future.
Some prior experience with dyes or pigments preferred.
Skills and techniques
- Chemistry for artists: dye colorant categorization and pH explication
- Exploration and analysis of plant pigments using DIY chromatography
- Case study extracting 4 plants by decoction, digestion, fermentation, and tincture
- Swatches of 16+ extractions utilized as dye and pigment, organized in our laboratory notebooks
- Riveting stories from the history and artistry of color manufacture, from the medieval scriptorium, dye works, and alchemist’s laboratory, up to the present day
Before you come
Details for students
Where
One of the farm's studios, confirmed at check-in. See the campus
Staying on the farm
Housing, meals, the daily schedule, and places to stay nearby are on Prepare for your workshop.
Your instructor
Natalie Stopka
Natalie Stopka (she/her) is an artist and educator focused on the material history of color and sustainable studio practice. She captures material and elemental interactions in her experimental printmaking practice, incorporating a seasonally-changing vocabulary of plant dyes and handmade pigments. Natalie’s studio and dye garden are located in Yonkers, New York. She is the author of From Plant to Pigment: How to make your own vibrant inks, pastels and paints (Skittledog, 2025).
www.nataliestopka.com
@nataliestopka
Questions about this workshop, housing, or meals? Email registrar@sanbornmills.org or call (603) 435-7314. Please read the workshop policies before you register.