10 January 2023
This blog is an insight into creating bio colour. It's a very topical subject at the moment, as we're all trying our best to make better choices in terms of sourcing and using materials. Bio colour can be explained as a biodegradable, non-toxic sustainable solution in terms of sourcing and creating colour rather than using toxic substances which most paints contain. It involves the creation of colour from botanical plants through boiling, extraction and grinding. Botanical plants include bark, twigs, berries, leaves, oak galls, anything you can find in your garden. I'm going to write about the easiest process which is boiling to extract colour to make inks. I first came across it last year after 2 inspiring workshops with artists Kari Cahill and Annie Hogg. I became immediately engrossed in it because of its connection with nature, getting outdoors to source plants from my environment. It's inspiring for my artwork because of its site specific nature and the sustainable element. I also like to embrace the element of chance in the creation of water based inks. This process allows this to happen in the creation of colours and the different textures and effects you can apply to the inks in enhancing and modifying them.
Gathering the ingredients
This is just like going on a treasure hunt in the garden or your kitchen! There are so many different exciting plants or ingredients you will find and it’s wonderful to explore these during the different seasons to achieve different palettes of colour. I recently tried coffee, tea and beetroot I had in the kitchen and I was delighted with the results (images on this page). So try everything and see what happens, that’s the fun part! Generally I gather a generous handful of the plant ingredient (e.g. leaves) and this will make plenty for short term use. Some ingredients are very strong such as coffee so a few spoons is sufficient.
Hopefully you will find most of the following equipment for the process of boiling! Pots and saucepans, jam jars or any small glass containers, pestle and mortar, a funnel, coffee paper filters or muslin cloth (or tights) for very fine sieving, paper and a paint brush to test colours.
This method is the same as soup making. Pop the ingredients into the pot/saucepan, bring to the boil and then keep heated for as long as possible. This part is trial and error. If you keep it boiling too long the water will evaporate and the ingredient will burn. I recommend that you keep an eye on the pot as evaporation can happen so quickly! This process can take between 1-2 hours. The longer it takes the better, to allow as much colour as possible to extract from the ingredient. Adding more boiling water is an option if most of it has evaporated. Take off the heat. Filter using a funnel into a sterilized glass jar. Use a paper coffee filter or muslin cloth in the funnel. Add 5-10 drops of gum arabic (binder) to the ink in the jar. This will help with the flow and body of the ink.Add 1 or 2 cloves into the jar of ink. When the ink has cooled down, store in the fridge.
During the boiling process keep a close watch on the pot or else you will end up with a burnt ingredient! Allowing the ingredient to burn a little will darken the colour! Adding salt into the saucepan when boiling will help to draw out the colour but it will also change the colour slightly. Have glass jars sterilized beforehand. This can be done by boiling them in a large pot of water. This will avoid a layer of mold forming on the top of the ink! Be aware that berry ink will not last as long. To extract colour from bark, leave the bark in a bucket of water for 1-2 months, notice if there is a change of colour to the water. To deepen the colour of the ink simmer it over heat.
Be aware that these colours will not last very long so have plans to use them in the short term (1-2 months). Pop 1 or 2 cloves into each jar. I store mine for about a month or two at the most in the fridge. Store inks in sterilized glass jars. Useful ingredients to have for perserving - dried cloves (from the shop is perfect), white vinegar, red wine vinegar (for a change in colour) and salt.
Happy foraging and colour making!
I hope this blog has inspired you to start your colour making journey, to go out, explore and have a go! Ink making is the easiest way to start making your own colour before moving on to try pigment making. At the beginning you might feel a bit disappointed at the colour range you are getting. For me it was subtle hues of yellow. As you persist I promise this will expand as your knowledge of forecasting the results of the colour will improve. You will also find different ways of tweaking the colour using preservatives. And most importantly have lots of fun!