Essence of the Earth – Colour Making From the Landscape at Dowth

Tue 19 Jul, 10:30am – 4pm | €60 | Adults

Learn how to harness colour from the landscape with artist and pigment forager Kari Cahill. Meeting at the lands of Dowth, explore the colours, botanies and earth pigments available around the 18th-century Dowth Hall, the archaeological excavation and lush landscape surrounding the site.

Following a picnic lunch, Kari will guide you on an exploration of natural colour. This workshop will show you the basics on how to create bio colour with natural and industrial materials. As well as having the opportunity to grind, mull and use earth pigment, the workshop will demonstrate: identifying plants, best practices for foraging, and working with the seasons, step by step guide to 3 colour making processes – grinding, soaking and boiling, introduction to modifiers – tweaking PH levels, adding oxides and lightfastness of colour, using binders and preservatives, tracking your recipes and experiments, colour history and resources worth exploring, site-responsive art and working with the land to create work.

Each participant will be given a worksheet to take home to support their bio colour experiments. No tools or previous experience is required. See our website for full details.