Ancestral Dyes and Paints of Mesoamerica

Rooted in Mesoamerican tradition, this class will explore the history and uses of natural materials from Mesoamerica to make dyes and paints (watercolors and oil-based paints). You will begin by preparing cotton and other ancestral fibers for dyeing. Then, you will learn how plants and insects make colors and how ancestral dyeing techniques work to dye fabric and thread. You will dye cotton and other fiber samples using dyes such as cochineal, Mexican tarragon, and local native plants.

After a morning of dyeing fibers, you will learn to use the remaining dye water to make paints. First, you will learn to extract the pigment from the water; then, you will discover some fundamental recipes for making water and oil-based paints using ancestral materials. You will learn how recipes varied depending on whether the intent was to paint critical architectural structures, draw on paper, decorate a musical instrument, or paint your skin.

Materials needed: please bring three large mason jars for the afternoon pigment extraction.

There is a limited amount of spaces in this class and the studio would like to encourage  individuals who have a cultural connection to natural dye traditions of The Americas to register.