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Weekly Class – 15 weeks
Wednesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2023
6 to 8 pm
Level: Beginner – Intermediate – Maximum 8 participants
Ages: 18+
15 weeks – $600 – Materiel not included – Please see list at the end
Please email us for installment payment
Learn to process earth pigments for watercolor paint making and develop a personal palette of
artist quality watercolor paints. In this class we will learn about foraging for pigments
responsibly while developing a relationship to our natural surroundings. We will explore the
unique properties of pigments, experimenting with paint texture, colors, and mark-making.
Through creating a personal palette, we will develop a body of work that conceptually engages
with the materials.
This class is perfect for someone looking to learn to create their own art materials using natural
and locally sourced materials.
Overview of Projects
Process Journal
– Take notes on methods, materials, and recipes
– Record material tests and create compositional sketches. Building a Personal Palette
– Forage for pigments to create paints. Paint colors will vary based on pigment sources (soil, clay, rocks, charcoal, etc.). Fill the half pans in a watercolor travel palette with handmade paints.
Project 1: Single Pigment Paintings
– Learn how to process and prepare pigments for paint-making and make watercolor paint. Properties and unique qualities of a single pigment.
Project 2: Foraging for Pigments
– Responsibly forage for three pigment sources for paint-making.
– Use these pigments to create at least one painting on 10” x 22” paper that relates to the location the items were found or the source itself.
Project 3: Painting on Watercolor Ground
– Use handmade watercolors on surfaces other than paper using Daniel Smith Watercolor
Ground. Can paint on found objects, canvas, wood panel, metal etc. Create 2 or more paintings depending on size and material.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1: September 6, 2023 – Course Introduction and Introduce Project 1
– Brief history of natural pigments in art
– Introduce Project 1: Single Pigment Paintings
– Prompt: Create two to three watercolor paintings on 11” x 14” or larger paper focusing on the properties and unique qualities of a single pigment
– Introduce the practice of keeping a process journal
– Students explore mark-making with readymade paint in process journals
– Bring: process journals, paint brushes, water jars, writing/drawing materials
Week 2: September 13, 2023 – Project 1 – Pigment Preparation
– Explain and demonstrate pigment preparation process
– Students begin pigment preparation process for a single pigment
– Bring: medium jars for pigment preparation, smaller jars for ground pigments, coffee filters, fine sifter, mortar and pestles, funnel, dust mask, eye protection, process journals, writing/drawing materials, (optional: apron, gloves)
Week 3: September 20, 2023 – Project 1 – Pigment Preparation + Paint Mixing Demo
– Students continue pigment preparation process
– Demonstrate paint mixing process
– Use paint from the demonstration to do material tests
– Begin planning compositions in process journal
– Check in with students to discuss progress
– Bring: raw pigments, medium jars for pigment preparation, smaller jars for ground pigments, coffee filters, fine sifter, mortar and pestles, funnel, palette knife, dust mask, eye protection, process journal, writing/drawing materials, (optional: glass muller, apron, gloves)
Week 4: September 27, 2023 – Project 1 – Begin Paint Mixing
– Practice paint mixing process and material tests
– Fill several half pans
– Compositional tests in process journal
– Meet with students to discuss their ideas and vision
– Bring: raw pigments in containers, gum arabic, palette knives, honey, mixing palette, palette with half pans, paint brushes, containers for water, process journal, writing/drawing materials, (optional: glass muller, distilled water, glycerin, apron, gloves)
Week 5: October 4, 2023 – Project 1 – Begin Paintings
– Begin two to three paintings for Project 1
– Paint mixing process as needed
– Journal about process and techniques
– Check in with students to discuss progress
– Bring: several 22 x 30 inch sheets of watercolor paper, paint brushes, palette with half pans, water containers, process journals, writing/drawing materials, IF needed: paint making supplies, (optional: distilled water, glass muller, apron, gloves)
Week 6: October 11, 2023 – Project 1 – Work on Paintings
– Work on two to three paintings for Project 1
– Paint mixing process as needed
– Journal about project progress and techniques
– Check in with students to discuss progress
– Bring: several 22 x 30 inch sheets of watercolor paper, paint brushes, palette with half pans, water containers, process journals, writing/drawing materials, IF needed:
paint making supplies (optional: distilled water, glass muller, apron, gloves)
Week 7: October 18, 2023 – Present Project 1 + Introduce Project 2
– Present final paintings for Project 1 and share thoughts of the paint making process
– Introduce Project 2
– Use three or more pigments to create one or more paintings 10” x 22” paper that relate to the location the items were found or the source itself
– Describe and discuss practices of responsible foraging
– Students sketch/plan some ideas
– Bring: two to three final paintings from Project 1, process journals, writing/drawing
materials
Week 8: October 25, 2023 – Project 2 – Foraged Pigment Preparation
– Students begin pigment preparation process for three pigments
– Work on sketches for Project 2
– Meet with students to discuss their ideas and vision
– Bring: three foraged pigment sources, medium jars for pigment preparation, smaller jars for ground pigments, coffee filters, fine sifter, mortar and pestles, funnel, dust mask, eye protection, process journals, writing/drawing materials, (optional: apron, gloves)
Week 9: November 1, 2023 – Project 2 -Pigment Preparation and Paint Mixing
– Students finish pigment preparation process and mix paint for half pans
– Begin working on painting for Project 2
– Check in with students on progress
– Bring: pigments in containers, mortar and pestle, eye protection, dust mask, gum arabic, palette knives, honey, mixing palette, palette with half pans, paint brushes, containers for water, process journal, writing/drawing materials, (optional: glass muller, distilled water, glycerin, apron, gloves)
Week 10: November 8, 2023 – Finish Project 2
– Work to complete Project 2 painting
– Check in with students on progress
– Bring: supplies needed to complete Project 2
Week 11: November 15, 2023 – Present Project 2 + Introduce Project 3
– Present completed painting for Project 2. Share thoughts on the process and reflect upon what was created
– Introduce Project 3
– Use handmade watercolors on a surface other than paper using Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground. Can paint on found objects, canvas, wood panel, metal etc.
– Demonstration of painting on Daniel Smith Watercolor Grounds on several surfaces
– White, black, gold, transparent, etc.
– Brainstorm the combination of pigments, watercolor ground color(s), and surface
– Meet with students to discuss their ideas and vision
– Bring: completed paintings Project 2, process journals, writing/drawing materials
Week 12: November 22 – Thanksgiving Vacation
– Select theme and surface
– Come to class with surface prepared with watercolor ground for Project 3
Week 13: November 29, 2023 – Project 3
– Begin painting on prepared watercolor grounded surfaces
– Check in on student progress
– Bring: Prepared Surfaces for Project 3, necessary supplies for Project 3, process journals, writing/drawing materials
Week 14: December 6, 2023 – Project 3
– Continue painting on prepared grounded surfaces
– Check in on student progress
– Bring: necessary supplies for Project 3, process journals, writing/drawing materials
Week 15: December 13, 2023 – Project 3
– Final day to work on Project 3
– Check in on student progress
– Present final projects and discuss the concepts expressed and materials used. Students share thoughts and feedback on one another’s work.
– Bring: necessary supplies for Project 3, process journals, writing/drawing materials
Materials
Some of the materials listed below you may already have on hand in your kitchen or among your
art supplies at home. Although gum arabic, glycerin, and honey are food safe do not use any
materials in food preparation after they have come in contact with pigments, for example
jars, sifters, funnels, mortar and pestles, marble slabs/glass palettes, palette knives, measuring
spoons, etc. need to be designated as art materials. You can thrift or reuse items you no longer
use in the kitchen. Pigments can be staining so I would recommend wearing an apron or clothes
that you don’t mind getting dirty, and gloves are optional.
– Journal/Sketchbook (for process journal. I’d recommend a Mixed Media or watercolor book at least 7” x 10.” For example – Canson XL Mixed Media, Stillman and Birn, Handbook Watercolor, and Moleskine Watercolor all can handle wet and dry media.)
– Coffee filters
– Fine sifter (do not use in food preparation after)
– Funnel (do not use in food preparation after)
– 3 Medium jars with lids for clarifying & siphoning pigments (do not use in food preparation after)
– Mortar/pestle (medium sized, marble, stone, or ceramic) (do not use in food preparation after)
– Small bottles with lids for storing powder pigments (do not use in food preparation after)
– Dust mask
– Eye protection
– Palette knives (do not use in food preparation after)
– Paper, glass, or marble palette for mixing paint on
– If you decide to use a muller you will need tempered glass or marble palette.
– You can thrift or use marble slabs from kitchen sections of stores but they need to be uncoated. We will sand them to create a good surface for mulling if needed
– Coarse sand paper if you choose to use muller + glass or marble palette
– Do not use palettes in food preparation after
– Gum arabic
– Honey (ok to bring from kitchen)
– Empty tin palette with half pans
– Mixed media paint brushes
– inexpensive is good since natural pigments can be coarse
– Measuring spoons (do not use in food preparation after)
– Artist tape
– Art Tote board or Incredible Art Board
– large enough to stretch the 10” x 22.” for example 16” x 24”
– Watercolor paper
– you will need at least three 22” x 30” individual sheets for all projects. I’d recommend buying one or two 140 lb cold press paper to start as that is watercolor painting standard and then once you learn what you like best buy as needed. Experimenting with several types of paper to learn what you like is great. Alternatives: rough or hot press, 140 or 300 lb
– Something to collect foraged pigments with. (I reuse cleaned yogurt or plastic take out food containers since they are lightweight)
– Something to transport materials to and from class. (I’d recommend a shopping caddy or something on wheels since supplies can be heavy)
Optional:
Glass muller (the best for mixing paint but using just palette knives is fine) Titanium white powder pigment or white chalk pigment (to modify paint colors) Glycerin (helps with paint viscosity) Distilled water (better to use for making paint than tap water since tap often contains minerals)
At the end of the course there will be an exhibition of students’ work at the Georgetown Library!
Zaragoza earned an MFA in Studio Arts from the George Washington University’s
Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and a BFA in Painting from the University of Florida. In
her work, natural pigments ground from soil, rocks, and charcoal are transfigured into
ephemeral, site-responsive artworks, paintings, and installations. Since receiving her MFA, her
work has been exhibited across the DMV region and recently was accepted to the Post-Graduate Residency Program at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA.
At the end of the course there will be an exhibition of students’ work at the Georgetown Library!
