Masterclass: The Alchemy of Colour
This masterclass introduces students to traditional methods of extracting pure pigments from natural materials such as earth, rocks, roots, and berries. These practices are rooted in centuries-old alchemical processes and reflect a perennial spiritual philosophy at the heart of traditional art. The pigments themselves embody a deeper cosmology, echoing the principles of the Alchemical tradition.
Students will work with semi-precious minerals—malachite, azurite, cinnabar, and chrysocolla—as well as a variety of plants. Through this process, they will witness the near-miraculous transformation of raw materials into pure pigments ready to be turned into paint.
In the second part of the workshop, students will be introduced to traditional paint-making techniques. They will learn how to prepare a range of historical mediums, including: gum kordofan; egg tempera; casein; glue; and plant oils.
By the end of the course students will create and take home a set of 12 handmade watercolour half-pans, crafted from the pigments they have prepared.
Throughout the workshop, students will gain a deep understanding of how to make paint directly from nature, and how this process reveals the profound connection between creativity and the natural world.
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This masterclass introduces students to traditional methods of extracting pure pigments from natural materials such as earth, rocks, roots, and berries. These practices are rooted in centuries-old alchemical processes and reflect a perennial spiritual philosophy at the heart of traditional art. The pigments themselves embody a deeper cosmology, echoing the principles of the Alchemical tradition.
Students will work with semi-precious minerals—malachite, azurite, cinnabar, and chrysocolla—as well as a variety of plants. Through this process, they will witness the near-miraculous transformation of raw materials into pure pigments ready to be turned into paint.
In the second part of the workshop, students will be introduced to traditional paint-making techniques. They will learn how to prepare a range of historical mediums, including: gum kordofan; egg tempera; casein; glue; and plant oils.
By the end of the course students will create and take home a set of 12 handmade watercolour half-pans, crafted from the pigments they have prepared.
Throughout the workshop, students will gain a deep understanding of how to make paint directly from nature, and how this process reveals the profound connection between creativity and the natural world.
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