FRIDAY 26th 10am - 12.30pm
Alcock & Brown - Clifden.

Join me at Clifden Art’s Festival for a hands-on workshop exploring the transformation of natural materials into charcoal pigment and ink. Experience the act of painting as a ritual practice that deepens connection to place and process.

Set within the elemental landscape of Connemara, this 2.5-hour session begins with the transformative energy of fire. You’ll learn how to collect and prepare local materials to make charcoal.  You’ll be guided through the process of grinding charred pigment, mulling it into paint and ink, and awakening it as a creative medium. 

You will experiment with intuitive mark making and the use of natural tools - feathers, twigs, stones - to create evocative abstract works that echo the raw energy of the Connemara landscape.

This is an earthy, experimental workshop for anyone curious about natural materials, wild processes, and making art in conversation with the land.

 No previous experience necessary. Booking essential. 

An artist’s guide to making natural inks, pigments, and paints from the world around you.

This beautifully crafted PDF workbook offers a hands-on introduction to the art of natural colour-making. Designed for artists, makers, and curious wanderers, it guides you through the process of extracting rich, earth-born hues from the land, whether you’re foraging along the coast, digging in the hills, or working from a city windowsill.

Inside, you’ll find clear, practical instructions alongside grounded approaches to working with plant, mineral, and metal-based materials. Learn how to transform berries, bark, flowers, charcoal, and rust into vibrant inks, pigments and handmade paint.

The workbook includes:

— A tool and material list using items you likely already have
— Step-by-step methods for extraction, boiling, and grinding
— Recipes for botanical inks and lake pigments
— Techniques for working with earth pigments and charcoal
— How to shift colour through pH and oxide modifiers
— Instructions for turning liquid ink into dry pigment
— Binder options for making lasting paints
— Safety guidance for working with natural and chemical materials

Every page is designed to support experimentation, slow process, and a deeper connection with the land. These recipes are adaptable to your environment and open-ended by nature—encouraging you to observe, take notes, and let the material guide the outcome.

Delivered as a downloadable PDF, this workbook is your companion for working in the wild or at your kitchen table. Whether you’re new to natural pigments or returning to an old love, LAND COLOUR invites you to begin with what’s underfoot—and see the world through its colours.