Plant Dye Series
Plant Dye Series
Plant Dye Master Class, Sep 21 : 1:30-5:30pm
$55. per session
Teaching Artist Mona Lewis
Pre-Registration Required
All supplies included
Adults
click on image for more information on each session
Join artist and educator Mona Lewis for a Plant Dye Series exploring the history, science, and beauty of natural dyes. Each workshop offers a unique focus — from discovering colors hidden in everyday plants to the history of Cochineal, the rich tones of Logwood and Brazilwood, the magic of indigo vats, and a master class on advanced techniques for achieving a broad palette from a single dye. Participants can take individual workshops or sign up for all. Sessions include hands-on instruction, prepared materials, and projects to take home.
Mona Lewis is an artist and arts educator in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, specializing in revitalizing the lost art of using plant dyes and earth pigments and teaching students how to use them in their work. She has been a Waldorf educator since 1998, and is co-director of the Waldorf Practical Arts Teacher Training program. Mona has illustrated four books for writer Alan Salazar, exclusively with natural earth pigments. Her own book, Nature’s Paintbox, is a collection of easy plant dye and earth pigment projects for artists.
Part One: Exploring the Mysteries of the Colors All Around Us
Since before recorded history, humans have been enchanted, soothed, excited, and healed by nature's colors, using them to express individuality and shared experience. In this session, Mona will guide participants in discovering the hidden colors in plants that surround us every day. Using fresh herbs and flowers from the hillsides and the kitchen, participants will dye silks and woolen yarns, exploring the special qualities and gifts each plant offers. Mona will prepare fibers in advance and provide a tutorial on the scouring and mordant process, along with sources for necessary ingredients. Participants will dye rainbows three ways—on yarn and on two silk pieces to take home. By the end of the session, they may never look at the natural world in the same way again.
Part Two: Bugs are the Best!
One natural dye that changed history comes from insects: the Cochineal, a scale insect that lives on the Prickly Pear cactus. Used in South and Central America since 1000 BCE and later valued in Europe, Cochineal Red was once worth its weight in gold. Mona will introduce participants to this fascinating dye, exploring its vibrant reds and pinks using wool yarn and silk she has prepared. She will also demonstrate the modifying bath (after-bath) technique for additional color surprises.
Part Three: Rock Stars of the Plant Dye World
Before sea routes to the Americas were established, red and purple dyes were rare and costly, often derived from Murex shellfish. The discovery of Brazilwood and Logwood in South America transformed this, offering rich colors from tree heartwood. Mona will guide participants in working with these historic dyes, preparing two silks and a skein of wool yarn for each student to dye and take home. She will demonstrate how simple ingredients can expand the color palette, and participants will complete a small braiding project suitable for use as trim on a Renaissance garment.
Part Four: Unraveling the Mysteries of Indigo
In this session, Mona will prepare natural indigo vats and guide participants in dyeing fabric and yarn. She will consult with the group about their interests in indigo techniques, which may include Shibori resist or rice paste resist—both offering fascinating explorations of this legendary blue dye.
Part Five: Plant Dye Master Class
This advanced session challenges participants to bring 30 colors out of one dye pot. Mona will teach how to mix and match mordants and modifiers, manipulate pH to shift colors, and make mordants from metals and plants. Each participant will dye yarn and create a notebook documenting the process. To conclude, each person will choose a favorite color and dye two ounces of wool yarn using their new skills. This class is for adults only and will provide a clear, practical understanding of how to generate a wide range of colors from a single dye plant.