Browsed by
Tag: procion dyes

results of the dye experiments - closer view
Adventures in colour (Part 2)

Adventures in colour (Part 2)

Comments 14 comments

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 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
    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:

 

 

  • Various small samples of white fabric which have been tied with string elastic bands paper clips and pegs
    Preparing the fabrics
  • Primary colour Procion dyes mixed with water and ready to be added to the fibres
    The prepared Procion dyes mixed and ready for use
  • First colour to be used yellow in basin along with various fabrics tied in various ways and prepared for dyeing
    Stirring the yellow dye into the fabric
  • table with two basins yellow dye added to fabric, participant stirring one of the basins
    Stirring in the yellow dye – starting with the lightest colour
  • Table covered in a towel, lots of dye spills fabric samples at various stages of dyeing
    Work in progress on a messy table. Good reason to keep everything covered!
  • Various white cotton silks linen and rayon threads tied to a card ready for experimental dyeing
    Dye testing a variety of threads
  • Primay colours have been added to the various cotton, silk linen and rayon threads
    The thread experiment with dye added
  • Syringe is used to measure out the amount of the dye. It is being added to the red dye bath
    Adding more red dye to the bath
  • fabric added to the second dye bath of red. Fabrics have been retied and added to the top bath. a second bath contains retied fabrics which are waiting to be added to the top bath
    Next experiment: red has been added to the mix and the fabrics have been retied
  • Bath of red dye being stirring by one person while a second person adds more fabric samples to the bath
    A two person job! stirring the bath and adding the fibre.
  • Various fabrics from the participants, dyed red, blue yellow and green
    Some nice surprises when we opened our little parcels
  • Lots of results of the dyes samples laid out on a table
    A colourful table!
  • results of the dye experiments - closer view
    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.

  • Sample with dark green, light green light blue and yellow vertical lines
    Definitely one of my favourites. Reminds me of strobe lighting!
  • Blue on blue sunbursts. Heavy cotton
    I tied these with some string (but you guessed that already)!
  • Blue on blue abstract patters way too subtle to be of interest. I might over dye it. Yet to be decided
    Not a great result. If I stare at it long enough I might see something!
  • Light cotton. Light green with lighter green sunbursts. Pattern is a bit more uniform that other experiments
    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
  • Blues; the top section has series of vertical lines, the bottom section is very blotchy
    The pattern caught nicely in places but not in others
  • Different colour blues with some vertical boxes
    Subtle? Interesting? not sure
  • Light green background with three yellow and blue sunburst circles
    Sunburst circles a little too subtle I think!
  • Blue dye on fabric no great pattern
    Not a great result but it is one of the experiments so it is being included
  • dark blue and light blue blobs
    These look like clouds, lined up in rows!
  • Lines and circles on blue and green linen
    The longer I stare, the more patterns I see with this
  • Light and darker blue abstract finish on heavy cotton
    Interesting subtle finish on this one.
  • Green blue and yellow sample with squares running diagonally and vertically
    The colours are not as faded in the sample. Love all the squares.
  • Multicoloured samples with lots of different designs on it. Heavy cotton
    This one has a lot going on. Spot the paperclip!
  • Red white and blue sample that did not take well
    Perhaps not one of the best samples but it’s good to see this too!
  • Red heavy cotton with white thick lines and squares
    I find this quite attractive. I wish I could remember how I achieved the lines and squares!
  • Tie dye on silk red and yellow
    Lots going on here. The colours are richer than the photo
  • Warm colours on silk. Tie dyed to form circles
    A real sunburst, pity the piece was cut from the bottom corner!
  • Silk, red dye with vertical thick lines, similar to texture of bamboo cane
    One of my favourites! reminds me of bamboo cane
  • Salmon pink dye on heavy cotton lace
    A heavy cotton lace again a tiny piece. I might add it to some nuno sometime!
  • Heavy cotton abstract blue in top left forming diagonal lines, red and purple background
    I like the diagonal lines in this sample
  • Small sample silk abstract design in red blue and white
    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!