Adventures in colour (Part 2)
In my last post I talked about a 4 week dyeing course that I attended a while ago at Sharon Wells studio https://www.sharonwellsart.com/ . The first week was dedicated to acid dyeing and we have fantastic results from it. Week 2 was all about natural dyeing, our colours were more subtle and totally restful. If you missed part 1 you can catch it at adventures-in-colour-part-1
I talk about the third and fourth sessions in this blog. I hope you enjoy!
Week 3:
This week’s session was all about the production of pigment. Sharon started off by showing us some ‘tools of the trade’; the glass mulling tool and tempered glass which, along with an old coffee grinder, she uses to grind elements into powder. We learnt about the difference between dye (dissolves in water) and pigment (disperses in water and so needs a carrier). Then we discussed types of pigment; earth and animal both of which can be ground into powder and animal, which needs a totally different process. We mixed various powers and produced test sheets using the pigments as both oil and watercolour paints. We also tried artificial pigments. It was very exciting. Here is a quick look at some of the day.
All the processes for making earth pigments 
Linseed, used as the medium for oils
The water colour medium 
A new student dropped in, but had other things on her mind 
Ground down sea shells. There is still some grit in the mix so it was not fine enough 
preparing the sea shells to accept the medium 
Artificial pigments containing mica, they made delicious colours 
The mulling tool is used for fine grinding and mixing the pigment with the medium.
The real excitement happened when we started making botanical pigments. Sharon boiled up some onion skins and in no time we had a beautiful golden brown coloured liquid which she shared out among the group. She then dissolved aluminium sulphite (alum) and soda crystals in two containers. We added the alum to our onion skin liquid and then watched in fascination as the soda crystals reacted to the liquid when we poured it in. The pigment separated from the liquid and we were, in the end, left with clear liquid. We then strained our pigment and dried it. Here are a few photos to give you an idea of the fun we had:
The onion skins were left to simmer for about an hour 
The strained onion skin dye bath 
measuring the aluminium sulphate before dissolving it 
The aluminium Sulphate and soda crystals (in the peanut butter tub). The onion skin dye bath is in the background 
The chemical reaction once the alum and soda crystals get going 
Separation of the onion skin pigment. 
The pigment attaches to the alum once the soda crystals are added to the mix. 
The onion skin pigment drying at home 
The final pigment was filtered through a coffee filter and left to dry 
The bottle contains bluebell pigment which was prepared from the flowers in the tutor’s garden 
Olive leaf pigment produced a lovely colour 
Four botanical pigments: 1. Marigold 2. ‘wild Eve’ Rose 3. Olive leaf 4. bluebell 
preparing the sea shells to accept the medium
The whole process had us all enthralled and ready to try it at home!
Week 4:
The final class in the dyeing series focussed on Procion Dyes . The class was led by Anne Jefferies, and Irish Textile artist and tutor. We used cold water dyes this time and worked with plant based fibre including different weights and textures of cotton, linen and silk. We also experimented dyeing a variety of different threads. Anne explained the full process and provided excellent notes so there was very little need to write which was good because our hands were very busy. Anne prepared the various solutions and we got to work using pure primary colours. We divided our samples into three lots and tied each piece of fabric into whatever shape we fancied then we got dyeing. We started with the lightest colour, yellow and dyed our first batch. Then we removed and rinsed these and retied a number of them, ones we wanted to overdye and popped these into the the dye bath to which some red dye had been added. We then added our second batch of undyed samples and watched the magic occur. We then removed all of these and set up a fresh dye bath for the blue. Here are some of the photos taken on the day:
Preparing the fabrics 
The prepared Procion dyes mixed and ready for use 
Stirring the yellow dye into the fabric 
Stirring in the yellow dye – starting with the lightest colour 
Work in progress on a messy table. Good reason to keep everything covered! 
Dye testing a variety of threads 
The thread experiment with dye added 
Adding more red dye to the bath 
Next experiment: red has been added to the mix and the fabrics have been retied 
A two person job! stirring the bath and adding the fibre. 
Some nice surprises when we opened our little parcels 
A colourful table! 
More samples ready for dyeing
Here is a slideshow of my dried samples. I can’t decide which is my favourite! Having said that, I am showing them all as some were disasters but still deserve an airing.
Definitely one of my favourites. Reminds me of strobe lighting! 
I tied these with some string (but you guessed that already)! 
Not a great result. If I stare at it long enough I might see something! 
This is a bigger piece of light cotton. The pattern is a little more uniform. I might use it for nuno. Decision yet to be finalised 
The pattern caught nicely in places but not in others 
Subtle? Interesting? not sure 
Sunburst circles a little too subtle I think! 
Not a great result but it is one of the experiments so it is being included 
These look like clouds, lined up in rows! 
The longer I stare, the more patterns I see with this 
Interesting subtle finish on this one. 
The colours are not as faded in the sample. Love all the squares. 
This one has a lot going on. Spot the paperclip! 
Perhaps not one of the best samples but it’s good to see this too! 
I find this quite attractive. I wish I could remember how I achieved the lines and squares! 
Lots going on here. The colours are richer than the photo 
A real sunburst, pity the piece was cut from the bottom corner! 
One of my favourites! reminds me of bamboo cane 
A heavy cotton lace again a tiny piece. I might add it to some nuno sometime! 
I like the diagonal lines in this sample 
This is a small piece of silk. I wish I had two meters as it would make a fabulous top!
I loved these classes. They were a mix of great fun, camaraderie and fantastic learning. They have demystified some of the processes around dyeing and I now feel confident in trying them myself. Thank you Sharon https://www.sharonwellsart.com/ for facilitating this wonderful experience!
14 thoughts on “Adventures in colour (Part 2)”
Looks like you’ve learned so much much whilst having a whole load of fun Heléne. So is this another long deep rabbit hole you will be exploring?
Xx
I just pulled my head out of the hole to respond Antje. All I can say is that the nettles are young and plentiful and I just bought some Alum. Purchased some soda ash ad Procion dyes before the holidays. So ya just never know. lol. xxx
Wow Helene, What a fantastic course, the last two modules seem to be even better than the first two.
Although I don’t do natural dyeing, I have been collecting onion skins. If I’m making gravy and it turns out a bit too pale, I bung some onion skins in and give it a good quick boil – hey presto, nice brown gravy!
The separating of the pigments from the liquid is really fascinating. It’s a process I’d love to watch. Real magic.
I do like all your samples, especially the bit of cotton lace. That would make a really interesting surface embellishment to a piece of felt – or a felt vessel?
You’ve set my mind off in lots of different directions with this post. Thanks (I think!)
Ann
Apologies in advance Ann. I have probably just shoved you into the rabbit hole too. As I just mentioned to Antje, I just purchased alum and, being the sort of ‘gardener’ I am (pretty bad) our nettles are showing. In fact the plants better just watch out if they see me with my trusty scissors.
I have committed my self to using some of the proceeds of the workshops. I’m going to do a blog post later in the year about the results. Too often I go to these sessions and the output ends up just merrily occupying space in the cupboard. I’ll be a good girl and do something with some of it.
Thanks for the tip on the gravy. Certainly worth remembering as my cooking can match my gardening skills at times.
Helene x
What’s not to like about mixing potions, applying them to fabrics then seeing magical results!
Gloves are a good idea – last time we did dyeing we ended up with nails that looked like we hadn’t washed our hands for a couple of weeks.
I have to say I don’t do it often enough Lyn and Annie. I think part of the fun is seeing what others achieve.
I know what you mean about the grubby nails. Kinda want to hide my hands after these events. My ‘go to’ fashion accessories for these events:
Gloves – to save the paws
Apron – for the clothes
Masks – to help hide the face and to provide other benefits.
Goggles – because I found that the various additives messed with my eyes.
I am visualising myself as some sort of cartoon nutty professor! lol
Helene x
What a wonderful course. It looks like you had loads of fun and learned so much. I think all of your samples will be useful. You can use them for backgrounds to stitch on or fabric collage or book pages or covers for something or other or …
What are you going to do with the earth pigments? My little group has played with those a bit and the colors are always so wonderful and organic.
It was really good fun Ruth.I am determined this time to use the fibres in some projects and to feature some results in a blog. Too often I confine them to the backs of presses so now I am committing in writing to actually using the stuff! Thanks a million for the ideas on the fabric. I have been staring at them for a while wondering what to do. The yarns are easy to figure out and now I have some direction for the fabrics.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to play with the pigments, that would have been fun. I just brought home some onion skin pigment and purchased the mica artificial pigment which I want to try out on fabric. Sharon mentioned a wonderful artist on Instagram, Joanne Green, who regularly brightens up my day as she makes, paints and sells her pigments. I don’t know if you follow her but if not, watching her in action may provide inspiration for your group.
Helene x
I t looks like you had a great time. dye and dying is so cooI did a resist dye class years ago. we used all sorts of things as resists. we also painted tongue depressors with dye then folded them into wool strips and then clamped and into the dye pot. it came out really cool.
It was a great taster into this mysterious realm Ann. Now that the spring has finally arrived, I am seeing so many possibilities in the garden. So it may be time to really start working on a new skill and dig deeper into the topic.
The resist class sounds really exciting. The idea of painting on the tongue depressors has me wanting to know more… I can see the rabbit hole opening even further.
Helene x
This seems to be such a fun couple of days. Definitely a cool thing to do with some magical results.
It was fun Marie. Added to this, the views from the house were fabulous – over Wicklow mountains. And the sun shone each day, not bad for November!
Helene x
Helene,
I’m horribly behind in my reading, and the comments made don’t always seem to post?? But, this post is one I’ve missed. Maybe a good thing, as I just finished a little natural dyeing in my John Campbell Folk Art School spinning course. We only touched on the topic, but I want to take it a bit further on my own.Your post just filled in a few blanks for me! I have some books, and miscellaneous chemicals, from my yarn dyeing days. Just yesterday, I found myself going through my supplies and came across labeled – (thank goodness) jars of white powdered chemicals in Mason jars. I actually have some of the ones you’ve mentioned. It’s great to know I have extra funds to put toward other dye extracts! (Happy dancing)
Hugs 🥰 Capi
Hi Capi,
things are a bit manic in the household at present so I am only getting to catch up on my reading this morning, just before a trip to the dentist for a crown, pity me!! I love my dentist but hate that chair and all that happens in it.
Glad your read of the piece came at an opportune time and it is good you have labelled all your jars too. Nothing quite as bad as the mystery jar containing white powder lol!!
I have actually started making my own dye extracts and this is great fun which adds to the whole process. It is amazing all the different shades that can be achieved through just changing the fibre. I also managed some pigment.
Like you I think I may have caught this dyeing bug. I am heading off to another natural dyeing course where kitchen scraps are used. Then we get to eat all the food stuff not used in the process. Wish me luck!
Helene x