Natural Watercolor and Pigment Making Workshop: Mayan Blue

I have been a visual artist for over 15 years, mainly based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Since 2011, under the apprenticeship of Textile artist Maddalena Forcella, I began my journey in organic dyes. Through independent research, reading scholarly articles on the chemistry and history of natural pigments, and soaking up traditional knowledge from the zapotec villages in my surroundings, I started learning and reformulating recipes for historical pigments, like cochineal lake pigment and Mayan blue, amongst others. Since my daughter was born in 2022, I realized the importance of having a child-friendly environment, without toxic chemicals and heavy metals floating around my workshop. I believe this is something that all parents, artists and art enthusiasts should have access to. That is why I developed this series of workshops so anyone, including kids, can learn to make natural pigments, and non-toxic, solvent-free formulas for watercolor and oil paints. There is also an incalculable value in the workshop model as a place to socialize in an environment of creativity and shared interests that I can´t get enough of! I periodically travel to California for work reasons, and I would like to begin growing a community with like-minded people who want to take a deep dive into the alchemy of color and natural pigments.