From Plant to Pigment: Cook the Book
From Plant to Pigment: Cook the Book
For those of us seeking sustainable and ecologically connected artistic practice, the refined and chemically pure colors of today’s art suppliers are very far removed from nature. Inspired by the history and craft of color-making, From Plant to Pigment is a recipe book for creating handmade, homegrown, and local pigments. Join author Natalie Stopka to learn the process of transmuting fragile botanical dyes into durable lake pigments, extending the artistic applications of dye colors into expanded media.
In this eight-part live online series, participants will follow along with Natalie to cook their way through the book, concocting 6+ lake pigments utilizing a variety of extraction methods, along with ink, paint, pastel, and charcoal. Working through the recipes with Natalie’s guidance will allow participants to quickly learn the operative chemistry of botanical pigments, and stock their studios with colors ready to create art. Don’t let From Plant to Pigment suffer the fate of so many art manuals and cookbooks: sitting on a shelf to gather dust, their contents unplumbed and lessons unlearned!
Eight Sessions meet on alternate Saturdays, beginning in February 2026
1:00 - 3:00pm EST
February 14: Introduction to the Studio Larder, Necessary Equipment, and Terminology
February 28: Natalie’s Master Lake Pigment Recipe
March 14: Purple Petals
March 28: Tinctures & Modifiers
April 11: Alkaline Extraction
April 25: Fermentation Extraction
May 9: Inkmaking & Paintmaking
May 23: Charcoal & Pastel
This mini-series is designed to provide a solid technical foundation, along with rich context for artistic inspiration and conceptual connectivity. It is open to all levels of experience, but aimed at beginner and intermediate pigment-makers eager to get their hands dirty and their studios supplied with botanical art materials. Registrants are invited to work along with Natalie during our class sessions, sharing outcomes and questions as the course unfolds. Registration is intentionally capped to foster a comfortable and convivial learning environment.
Upon registration, participants will receive a welcome PDF with Zoom link. Each session will be recorded, but participants are strongly encouraged to attend as many live sessions as possible, bringing their curiosity and the results of their at-home pigment pursuits.
Registrants may purchase a signed and personalized copy of From Plant to Pigment. Those who already have a copy in their library will receive a hand marbled and signed bookplate from Natalie; please enter the desired shipping address at checkout.
