Botanical Magic: Explore the alchemy of plants & paper

$175.00

Coax art from the landscape in this hands-on, 5-hour creative intensive.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the beautiful chemistry of the natural world. By pairing moisture, pressure, and heat with rust, you'll learn how to transfer vibrant plant pigments directly onto prepared papers. We will cover the basic science of natural pigment, and you’ll master the art of bundling leaves and botanicals for the dye pot.

While our bundles simmer, we’ll shift our focus to the soothing rhythm of botanical papermaking. Using a simple, low-water method, you will transform prepared plant fibers into highly textured, organic art papers that capture the essence of the harvest.

What You’ll Create & Take Home

5 Ecoprints on 6x6 Watercolor Paper: High-quality prints ready to be framed individually or arranged in a striking series.
5 Sheets of 6x6 Handmade Botanical Paper: Textured, organic sheets that stand beautifully on their own or serve as a rich foundation for future work.
5 Ecoprinted Collage Papers: Unique prints captured on delicate rice paper or repurposed book pages, perfect for incorporating into mixed-media and collage projects.
Instructions & Resources: A practical guide to help you recreate this natural magic in your own creative space.

Registration Details

Investment: $175 per student (Includes all specialized mordants, prepared watercolor papers, botanical fiber pulp, and take-home resources).
Location: Private, outdoor covered studio, Citrus Heights, CA.

Dates

Saturday October 10, 10 am to 3 pm
Saturday November 21, 10 am to 3 pm

Class Size

Limited to 6 participants; not suitable for children. Workshop may be canceled with 2 days’ notice and full refund if fewer than 3 people are registered.

Date:

Coax art from the landscape in this hands-on, 5-hour creative intensive.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the beautiful chemistry of the natural world. By pairing moisture, pressure, and heat with rust, you'll learn how to transfer vibrant plant pigments directly onto prepared papers. We will cover the basic science of natural pigment, and you’ll master the art of bundling leaves and botanicals for the dye pot.

While our bundles simmer, we’ll shift our focus to the soothing rhythm of botanical papermaking. Using a simple, low-water method, you will transform prepared plant fibers into highly textured, organic art papers that capture the essence of the harvest.

What You’ll Create & Take Home

5 Ecoprints on 6x6 Watercolor Paper: High-quality prints ready to be framed individually or arranged in a striking series.
5 Sheets of 6x6 Handmade Botanical Paper: Textured, organic sheets that stand beautifully on their own or serve as a rich foundation for future work.
5 Ecoprinted Collage Papers: Unique prints captured on delicate rice paper or repurposed book pages, perfect for incorporating into mixed-media and collage projects.
Instructions & Resources: A practical guide to help you recreate this natural magic in your own creative space.

Registration Details

Investment: $175 per student (Includes all specialized mordants, prepared watercolor papers, botanical fiber pulp, and take-home resources).
Location: Private, outdoor covered studio, Citrus Heights, CA.

Dates

Saturday October 10, 10 am to 3 pm
Saturday November 21, 10 am to 3 pm

Class Size

Limited to 6 participants; not suitable for children. Workshop may be canceled with 2 days’ notice and full refund if fewer than 3 people are registered.

You'll print a 14 X 60 inch silk crepe de chine scarf using Eucalyptus, Rose, Cotinus and Blackberry leaves along with onion skins. These botanicals produce beautiful prints of purple and red-orange on a brown/black background. You’ll also create ecoprints on watercolor paper using Fall leaves that have fully developed their tannins. I'll provide a list of 'good printers' in advance so you can gather your own materials if you'd like, though I will have enough for everyone.

Because of the lengthy processing time to achieve vibrant colors with this process, you'll return the following day when we'll unbundle our prints and rinse our scarves. You'll take home at least 4 prints on paper and a beautiful luxurious one-of-a-kind scarf, co-created by nature and you! If the pickup session doesn’t fit with your schedule, we can coordinate another time, so please don’t let that stop you from registering for this workshop.