Upcoming Learning Opportunities
From Plant to Pigment: Introduction to Lake Pigments
Catskill Weaving School
Catskill, New York
December 7, 10:00 - 4:00
For those of us seeking sustainability and ecological connection in our creative practices, the chemically pure colors of today’s art suppliers are very far removed from nature. Join Natalie Stopka, author of From Plant to Pigment, for an introduction to lake pigments. This process of transmuting fragile botanical dyes to durable pigments extends the artistic applications of dye colors into expanded media including paint, ink, and pastel. Inspired by the history and craft of color-making, Natalie will share her master recipe for creating handmade, homegrown, and local pigments. Participants will leave with three different pigment colors, an overview of paint-making, and the knowledge to continue exploring lake pigments in their own studios.
Natalie’s studio recipe book From Plant to Pigment: How to make your own vibrant inks, pastels and paints is now available! Participants may wish to purchase a copy at our workshop, or bring a copy to be signed by the author.
Lake Pigment Making
Deep Dive
A yearlong series hosted by Plants & Colour
starting in January, 2026
A new year-long online programme exploring the concepts and chemistry of lake pigments following a historical trajectory from ancient Egyptian recipes, to medieval approaches, and modern-day techniques. Taught by Natalie Stopka, Lucy Mayes, and Julie Beeler in monthly live online sessions delving into different perspectives and processes.
Historical & contemporary practices With Lucy Mayes
Flowers of the Field With Natalie Stopka
Sustainability With Lucy Mayes
Making Laking Reagents With Lucy Mayes
Buckthorn Lakes With Natalie Stopka
Mushroom Lakes with Modifiers With Julie Beeler
Indigo and other non-laked colourants With Natalie Stopka with Lucy Mayes contributing
Madder Root Lakes With Natalie Stopka
Fungi Alkali Extractions With Julie Beeler
Creating a Palette of Colours With Lucy Mayes
Study Groups and one-on-one Mentorship are also available for this series!
Printing & Painting on Textiles
With Natural Colour
A yearlong series hosted by Plants & Colour
starting in January, 2026
Learn a wealth of different approaches to printmaking and painting on textiles using natural colour in this new yearlong, online series. Taught by Natalie Stopka, Greta Facchinato, Caroline Ross, Julie Beeler, Winona Quigley, and Jacqui Symons, sharing different techniques for making patterns and prints on fabric that are light-fast and wash-fast. Sessions include:
Making a Start: orientation, studio setup & intention setting
Soya for Dyeing and Mordant Painting
Soya Binder or Topcoat for use with pigments
Making a Printing Ink Paste from natural dyes
Making a Printing Ink Paste from pigment/extract
Screen Printing Pattern with natural ink
Applying Ochre Glue Paint & Tannin Inks for fabric and leather surfaces
Fabric Printing with Mushroom Paints
Mordant Printing: Create color & pattern in a single dye pot
Mordant Painting with Mushroom Dyes
Natural Black Mordant for printing, painting & eco printing
Resist Pastes for immersion dyeing & direct print paste for semi-resist effects
Reflections & Sharing
Learn more about the instructors, format, optional Study Groups and one-on-one Mentoring through the link below!
From Plant to Pigment: Introduction to Lake Pigments
Textile Arts Center
Brooklyn, New York
January 10, 11:00 - 5:00
For those of us seeking sustainability and ecological connection in our creative practices, the chemically pure colors of today’s art suppliers are very far removed from nature. Join Natalie Stopka, author of From Plant to Pigment, for an introduction to lake pigments. This process of transmuting fragile botanical dyes to durable pigments extends the artistic applications of natural dye colors into expanded media including paint, ink, and pastel. Inspired by the history and craft of color-making, Natalie will share her master recipe for creating handmade, homegrown, and local pigments. Participants will leave with three different pigment colors, an overview of paint-making, and the knowledge to continue exploring lake pigments in their own studios.
Natalie’s studio recipe book From Plant to Pigment: How to make your own vibrant inks, pastels and paints is now available! Participants may wish to purchase a copy at our workshop, or bring a copy to be signed by the author.
From Plant to Pigment: Cook the Book
An online workshop series
Hosted by Natalie
Alternate Saturdays starting February 14, 1:00 - 3:00pm EST
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!
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.
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
Contact Natalie with queries about remote private instruction on intermediate and advanced topics.