Exploring Natural Pigments
About four months ago I began researching how to develop pigments made from the natural materials around me. Since then I've simmered, steeped, brewed, boiled, and ground materials such as beetroot, turmeric, blueberries, red cabbage, fruit teas, and coffee, all in an effort to extract the colors nature gave them. Some have been very successful (turmeric, beetroot, and granulated coffee) others not so much (chili pepper). I keep searching. But the practical application is another matter. Watercolor and gouache have been my first attempts. Here is a work executed with all-natural materials: blueberries, coffee, tea, beetroot, and turmeric. It's all been a bit of chemistry mixed with art.
