Where does color come from? The many plants that surround and sustain us are rich with color. With a little alchemical know-how, their brilliant hues can be transformed from liquid dye to granular pigment. Join Natalie Stopka, author of From Plant to Pigment, for a workshop delving into the history, chemistry, and hands-on practice of paint-making with botanical pigments. Together we’ll concoct a palette of 8 handmade watercolors for participants to take home in a trusty travel paintbox.
Beginning with Natalie’s master lake pigment recipe inspired by pre-industrial artisan methods, we’ll then mix an all-natural watercolor medium and mull our pigments into paint. Along the way, we’ll also mull over the history of color, with snippets from the artist’s studio, monastic scriptorium, and alchemist’s laboratory. Participants will leave with a paintbox of 8 watercolors and the knowledge to continue expanding their palette of handmade paints. Every shade in our paintbox tells a story through its rich, characterful, botanical color.
Date + Time
Saturday, February 21st, 2026
12- 4 pm ET
Location
Tatter Textile Library: 505 Carroll Street, #2B, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Class Materials
All materials are included with ticket purchase.
Cost
$200
Our Teacher
Natalie Stopka is an artist and educator focused on the material history of color and sustainable studio practice. She captures material and elemental interactions in her experimental printmaking practice, incorporating a seasonally-changing vocabulary of plant dyes and natural pigments. Natalie’s studio and dye garden are located in Yonkers, New York. Her teaching experience includes Penland, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Textile Arts Center, SUNY New Paltz, and Rhode Island School of Design. She is the author of From Plant to Pigment (Skittledog, 2025).
@nataliestopka