"Handmade Lake Pigments & Inks" Hands-On Workshop

May 30th, 1 pm - 5:30 pm ; includes a 30 minute break

$200, Registration is required to secure a spot. Limit of 8 participants. 

About this class:

Learn to transform the liquid hues of botanical dyes into vibrant pigments with Natalie Stopka, author of From Plant to Pigment. This workshop delves into the history, chemistry, and hands-on practice of ink making with natural lake pigments. Utilizing the most lightfast color sources (weld, madder, lac, and indigo) we’ll concoct a mini palette: four bottles of liquid gouache for use with a brush or dip pen. We’ll also mull over the history of color, with snippets from the artist’s studio, monastic scriptorium, and alchemist’s laboratory. 

Natalie Stopka 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).

*Please note: This will take place in our downstairs workshop space which is only accessible by stairs.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Stopka