Natalie Stopka
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nataliestopka.bsky.social
Natalie Stopka
@nataliestopka.bsky.social
Artist, educator, author. Botanical pigments & sustainable studio practice.
https://www.nataliestopka.com
Natural Dyes from Garden Plants: deadline extended!

Apply by May 12 to join me in the heavenly gardens at Oak Spring Garden Foundation in VA, August 18-22. All levels welcome.

www.osgf.org/programs-and...
April 26, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The potent saddening effect of iron added to weld dye. I love the limpid yellow of weld, but a judicious dose of iron shifts that color to a fantastic sage green! Be careful not to overdo, or shade muddies toward khaki.
April 26, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Marbling is VERY fun.
Large scale interpretation of an early 18th century design printed in London.
March 27, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Where does color come from? It’s a story of rocks and minerals, plants and insects, and artisan ingenuity in the service of chronic chromophilia! A Handmade Palette: Natural and Historical Watercolors will delve into the practice, history, and chemistry!

July 10-13, Botanical Colors, Seattle
March 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Testing out my handmade pastels - just about the most immediate medium for pigment play. That green! It’s made from goldenrod I gathered in the field last autumn and laked. Seriously the best. 😊
February 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Next week is the final online demo in my series on simple, handmade drawing media: Creating Handmade Pastels with Natural Pigments. An approachable method for bringing natural colors and expressive texture to works on paper! Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6-7pm EST.

petersvalley.org/workshops/ha...
February 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Starts Next week: unraveling the mysteries of soya milk for natural dyeing. An online workshop elucidating the dual chemical and physical properties of soy & cellulose fibers!

plantsandcolour.co.uk/soya-milk
January 30, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The dichotomy of sad ebullience! Goldenrod lake pigment saddened by iron modification, fizzing with the ebullition of carbon dioxide produced during neutralization. Yes, “saddening” is the technical term for the coloristic effect of iron on botanical dyes.
January 29, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Just presented this month’s topic One Plant, Three Shades: Value & Yield of Lake Pigments. Low value = high utility from lake pigments! The year course from @plantsandcolour.bsky.social is full, but you can still sign up to access recordings.

plantsandcolour.co.uk/natural-colo...
January 28, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Such a great lineup of online learning available from Plants & Colour in the coming year! I’d take every one of these courses if I could.

plantsandcolour.co.uk
January 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Iron Gall Ink demonstration this week!

Commonplace oak galls, iron & sap make a rich indelible ink with entrancing visual and chemical properties. Recipes, foraging guidelines, alternative ingredients & Q+A.
Jan. 29, 6-7pm EST

petersvalley.org/workshops/ma...
January 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM