This workshop is a practical foundation for any form of painting. Particularly helpful  for artisans who want to have a deeper understanding of their tools and materials. The workshop is an introduction to making paint from raw materials using the traditional techniques of cultures from around the world. These workshops also cover all techniques of gilding on surfaces such as glass, paper, wood and in 3D.

Students make prepare pigments using a range of traditional recipes, they are taught to pound and grind minerals, like malachite or azurite which are then transformed into beautiful turquoise and blue pigments. They grind roots,  dried beetles and berries, solidifying these fugitive elements into effervescent bubbling pots and then straining and grinding the mixture into a fine pigment.By the end of the workshop the students have a set of watercolour paints, and the ability to make gouache, egg tempera and oil paint.

The workshop is colourful, exciting and full of hands on activity and experimentation. Scroll down to see some pictures of past classes.

STEINER SCHOOL, AUSTRALIA 2004

Students with their work. They gilded a design on each of the art-room windows