Welcome to Printing and Painting with Natural Dyes! This class invites you into the vibrant world of botanical color, where nature becomes both palette and partner. Whether you’re a textile enthusiast, artist, or eco-conscious maker, this introduction to natural dyes class will help you understand how natural dyes work.
In this fun workshop, participants will get a demonstration of how cellulose fibers and protein fibers work with natural dyes, how to make mordants to fix color, and techniques for transferring these dyes to fabric. Through hands-on exercises, they will learn methods such as block printing, resist dyeing, hand painting, and steam-setting color, all while experimenting with a wide array of natural dye extracts like madder, cochineal, logwood, and weld, to name a few.
This class is rooted in sustainability and slow craft. You’ll not only learn artistic techniques but also gain a deeper appreciation for the rhythms of nature and the beauty of imperfection. By the end, you’ll have created your own naturally dyed textile pieces and built a foundational understanding of working with natural colorants.
Let’s get our hands stained –in the best way– and discover what the earth has to offer!
Materials:
- Participants will be provided with pre-mordanted (iron and aluminum acetate) fabrics: 2 pure cotton handkerchiefs, 2 bandanas, 1 cotton tote bag, and 1 small silk scarf
- Gloves will also be provided
Participants should bring:
- An apron or smock
- Two articles of clothing and/or home furnishing fabric* like a pillowcase or cushion cover to experiment printing on with natural dyes
*No synthetic or mixed fabric, just 100% cotton or linen that’s been pre-washed with mild soap
Date: Saturday, November 8
Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fee: $125 (Member $120)
Registration Deadline: November 4
Instructor: Neha Bhatt, Teaching Artist
About Neha Bhatt
Neha Bhatt is a Teaching Artist with a deep passion for textile arts and creative education. Her journey began in middle school while growing up in India, where she was introduced to Indian Batik, natural and indigo dyeing, block printing, and hand sewing through extracurricular classes. That early spark grew into a lifelong love for textile design, leading her to explore surface pattern techniques, fiber studies, and expressive methods of creating art through fabric.
With a strong background in education and years of classroom experience, Neha now blends her teaching skills with her creative talents to offer workshops, paint parties, and arts-based programs for learners of all ages. She works as a Teaching Artist with Fulton County School System by offering different programs, and helping students discover the many joyful and meaningful ways to engage with creative arts.
Through her work, Neha aims to make art approachable, hands-on, and inspiring – encouraging storytelling, cultural connection, and self-expression through every thread and pattern.