Natural Pigments & Binders

This four-week class, taught by artist Carolyn Sweeney, walks students through the fundamentals of crafting their own non-toxic, artist-grade, earth-friendly materials from scratch, with a different technique and finished product each week.

Class is organized around four binders, each with its own history, basic chemistry, and best uses: gum arabic for ink, wax for crayons, chalk for pastels, and egg for tempera paint. Students combine each binder with natural pigments to build a full suite of handmade materials, learning the historical context and practical properties of each medium along the way.

By the end of the four weeks, students take home their own set of handmade art materials, including inks, crayons, pastels, and egg tempera swatches, along with the knowledge to keep making variations on their own.