Madder, Weld & Woad: The Three Primaries

During this two-day workshop, Lucy and Edward of Old Mill Arts will guide you through the botanical inks by focusing on three plants that have been the source of colour for thousands of years. From the madder plant root comes vibrant red, a luminous yellow from weld, and a green tinged blue from the leaves of woad.

The workshop will cover many aspects of these plants, placing them in historical context and exploring their individual botanical characteristics.

This is followed by a demonstration of dyeing and guidance on how to achieve pigments and ink from the plants. There will also time to experiment with some pre made inks, mixing them to see how to extend the range of colour possibilities.