Forest Floor to Handcrafted Color: Exploring Mushroom Dyes & Pigments

Students will meet at an off-site location in the Oregon Coast Range (one hour from Portland) where Julie will guide the group through the forest, offering an introduction into the world of fungi. This forest immersion will illuminate the variety, and complexity of forest fungi while deepening understanding of the mycological world. Participants will learn to identify fungi species with color potential and observe these mushrooms in their natural habitats.

The group returns to the studio on day two to transform their foraged mushrooms into brilliant dyes, pigments, paints, and inks. Students will learn techniques for mordanting, creating dye baths, extracting pigments through lake-making, and experimenting with inks. Guided demonstrations and creative exploration will help participants unlock the full palette of color that mushrooms provide.

Students will leave with a mushroom color chart of dyed fibers, a mini accordion book documenting pigment colors, pigment and ink samples created during the workshop, an instructional craftbook with mushroom pigment and dye recipes, and the confidence to begin to identify fungi and explore mushrooms for color independently.

No previous experience is required—ideal for beginners and experienced dyers alike.