Liquid Watercolours and Plant- and Mineral-Based Inks

Liquid Watercolours and Plant- and Mineral-Based Paints

In this theme, colour is extracted from plants using water, cooking or maceration. Participants learn to prepare liquid paints with water, binders and preservation solutions, and experiment with applying them to paper or fabric.

I want to discover — 2h30

Prepare a plant-based paint and a mineral paint from selected plants and experiment with applying them to paper. Each participant creates an illustration on paper or fabric.

You will learn to:

understand how liquid plant and mineral watercolours are made; distinguish plant-based and mineral paints; prepare a simple plant extraction; mix pigments with water and binders; observe how paints behave on paper and fabric; experiment with different applications.

At the end, you take home the two paints prepared, an illustration or paper composition and a small sample of the colours. No previous experience is required; all materials are included. Bring empty containers to take your paints home.

I want to continue learning — 4h

Compare different plants, extraction methods, binders and preservation methods. Experiment with a liquid plant paint, a liquid mineral paint and a hybrid paint on paper and fabric, observing intensity, transparency, opacity and texture. You will also learn to combine plant and mineral pigments, test different binders, try simple preservation methods and record results. You will prepare the three paints, apply them to paper and fabric and build a comparative sampler. Some plant extractions may be prepared in advance.

I want to gain my autonomy — 2 days

A two-day training to discover how plants and minerals can become artistic materials. On the first day, participants explore plant and mineral colour extraction, including transforming liquid colour into dry powdered pigment through three extraction techniques, precipitation, filtration, drying, grinding and preservation. On the second day, these pigments are used to prepare liquid and solid watercolours and hybrid paints, experimenting with different binders and supports. The detailed programme and materials will be presented later.

You will learn to compare materials, understand extraction and precipitation, adjust intensity and consistency, try simple preservation methods and record results. You will prepare plant and mineral paints, apply them to paper and fabric, compare transparency, opacity, texture and intensity and build a small sampler with colour samples and process notes. No previous experience is required; all materials are included.