... nothing is ordinary
The Dye Pot Studio offers a wide range of natural pigment workshops, from 3 hours to 2 days in length. Click on a link below to book a place in one of the upcoming events, or use the Contact Me page to discuss a personalised workshop for your group or organisation.
Paper + thread
Wheatbelt Arts Hub workshops
Earth Pigments and Natural Paints
This two-day workshop introduces participants to the rich material possibilities of earth pigments and the processes used to transform raw mineral colour into usable paints.
Participants will work through the early stages of pigment preparation, including selecting raw materials, grinding, levigation and testing for hue, value and texture. We will also explore the transformation of iron oxides through heat, the preparation of calcium carbonate, and the role of natural gums and binders in paint making.
The workshop then moves into the creation of handmade paints. Participants will learn mulling techniques to produce watercolour and tempera paints using earth pigments prepared during the workshop. Additional processes include preparing glair and watercolour mediums, exploring the role of kaolin and calcium carbonate as paint modifiers, and understanding the principles of lightfastness and pigment stability.
Throughout the masterclass, participants will mix and test a range of colours, building practical knowledge of how natural pigments can be integrated into drawing, painting and mixed-media practices.
3-4 June 2026
York, WA
For more information and bookings, visit the WAH website.
Botanical Inks and Tannin Dyes
This immersive four-day masterclass explores the rich creative possibilities of botanical inks and tannin dyes, guiding participants from field collection through to studio experimentation.
Beginning with a guided field visit, participants will discover the cultural and material significance of local plant and earth pigment sources. Collected materials become the foundation for a series of studio investigations into natural colour extraction, tannin dyeing, and pigment preparation.
Over the course of the workshop, participants will explore techniques for extracting and modifying plant-based pigments, preparing tannin dyebaths, and testing colour on cloth. Through a series of structured studio experiments, participants will develop a personal palette while learning methods for assessing colourfastness, washfastness and light stability.
The masterclass also introduces the chemistry and creative potential of botanical inks. Participants will explore the development of thickened inks, black inks, and alcohol-based pigment solutions, experimenting with mark-making, layering and surface design.
The final sessions investigate the transformation of botanical inks into lake pigments, along with the creation of thickened mordants and discharge pastes for printmaking and textile surface design. Participants are encouraged to experiment with texture, layering and archival approaches to integrate botanical colour into their own creative practice.
5-8 June 2026
York, WA
For more information and bookings, visit the WAH website.
Unlocking the Colours of Nature
(FAA and S&B Australian Workshops)
Explore nature's colour palette with Helen Coleman, as she gently guides you through her process to transform plants and earth into inks, dyes, pigments and paints.
In this immersive experience, participants will explore a wide range of locally sourced, natural materials for their colour properties, convert these pigments into art mediums and create unique artworks deeply connected with the local landscape.
Workshop techniques include plant pigment extraction, botanical inkmaking, earth pigment levigation and natural paintmaking. We will also explore tannin dyeing in the full-week workshops.
This workshop will benefit beginners to experienced artists who are keen to incorporate natural pigments in their practice.
Fibre Arts Australia workshops:
Hahndorf, South Australia
26-30 September 2026
Callignee, Victoria
8-14 October 2026
For more information and to register, visit the Fibre Arts Australia website
Stitching and Beyond Workshop:
Hobart, Tasmania
19-21 October 2026
For more information and to register, visit the Stitching and Beyond website