Spicy Colors: DIY, from Sketchbook Challenge

You can see this post at Sketchbook Challenge today as well. Get in the fun over there. This month's theme is Spice of Life. Check out this month's giveaways as well! 

... Look no further than your kitchen and neighborhood for this journal entry. Based on my experiments with botanical dyes last year, I decided to whip up some DIY stains for this month's theme. This is a great way to explore nature. 

Paprika, Turmeric, Walnut Ink & Pokeberry, Journal Page, Diana Trout

 

Paprika and turmeric are readily available at your grocery store. Add about 3:1 water to spice and let them sit for a while. You may need to add a bit more water as the spice absorbs and it won't absorb completely. It will be grainy.

Please note, this is just for playing around. The "paint" will be full of undissolved spice. I painted the colors on (see above), let it dry and just brushed off the undissolved spice.

Pokeberries grow wild and are usually in full berry right about now here in the Mid-Atlantic, US. The snowstorm we had last week clobbered our neighborhood bush so I was only able to gather a few. Put the berries in a little bowl and squish them with a fork (or your finger) to release the "ink." I don't mind getting messy, so I pick up one of my berries after squishing and pushed it around on the page. Great fun for adults and kids.

If you have a black walnut tree around, you can find the nuts on the ground in autumn. Smack one with a hammer (if it's not already broken) and then cook the outer hull in about 1/2 cup water. Just bring it up to a boil and simmer a bit. It is very intense! Badda-Bing: home-made walnut ink.

I did the little drawings and writing on this page with the DIY walnut ink and a dip pen. 

There is a clip at the end of this video showing me-self making and using pokeberry ink (the above page. The clip begins at 6:32 so skip ahead to that (unless you'd like to see my daughter in action at her post-grad job a couple of years ago :)

Enjoy!

Comments

[iHanna]

You are so playful, love these autumn colored pages! So spicy!

[Aloquin]

Wow... I bet there are all kinds of other spices and berries/fruits that might make interesting stains, as well... the ideas are already jumping around in my mind :) Have to act on those! I also saw the clip at the end of the video... wow, those berries make a beautiful stain! Were those pages gessoed first?

[Diana Trout]

Indeed! There are loads of natural dyes out there. I did a lot of research and experimenting over the last couple of years. No gesso on those pages. Just white printmaking paper! Have fun experimenting

[Sharon MLS]

That is so fun! Many long years ago I spent my teen summers working at a camp just across the bay at Havre de Grace! BTW - my sons picked Paw Paws this summer and used them in homemade ice cream! Yum!

[Diana Trout]

Ive always meant to visit Havre de Grace. It seems I just pass it by! Id never heard of Paw Paw until I made that video with my daughter. Paw Paw Ice Cream! my goodness

[Diana Trout]

I hope youll try it! The turmeric is my favorite but it is fugitive

[Holly]

hi Diana! your notation about walnuts reminded me that my father used to make a solution of walnuts & chewing tobacco, stewed all-together, for my mother's reeds for homemade baskets! Such a stunning color....beautiful for baskets & it should work on fabric & papers. PawPaws are BIG in Virginia.....I have yet to try them....people are trying to grow kiwi trees, too. Any ideas how to make the color blue or indigo? I think S. Carolina settlers were able to find wild plants to make a blue dye for fabric......Holly

[zinnia patch]

Good Morning Diana! thank you for sharing such a fun video... your daughter is so sweet.... looks like you had a great time and now you've got me thinking! I've only been brave enough to coffee and tea stain...ahhh but there is so much more!!!!!

[Diana Trout]

Indigo and woad are how you get blues. I havent tried either yet but would love to. Just be aware that with any organic dyes on fabric, you have to mordant the cloth. A lengthy process ...

[Diana Trout]

and thinking is fun, isnt it! There are so many natural dyes out there! But for cloth, you need to mordant it. Enjoy!