Join us for thie Pigments + Place Workshop from Friday, October 4th, 2024 to Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture!

Are you ready for the world to become your palette? This workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of natural pigments. You’ll learn how to ethically forage pigments from the earth — rocks, flowers, roots, bark, bones — and how to transform these materials into any type of paint or ink. You’ll also learn about pigments as a way to creatively engage with ecological issues, including climate change.

Pigments allow us to feel forms of time that our daily lives can obscure: geologic time, photosynthetic time, or what is often called “deep time.” Pigments provide an opportunity to interact directly with ancient rhythms, offering a balm for the challenging emotions that ecological crises can provoke.

This course will include demonstrations, guided conversation, guided foraging outings, creative prompts, and time for individual and group creation and reflection. You’ll leave with a shared palette sourced from the Sisters bioregion and the skills to continue this practice on your own.

This course is appropriate for all skill levels. No experience of any kind is necessary though some previous engagement with some form of creative practice is helpful. Participants should be comfortable being outside and engaging in short nature walks. Your instructor is a certified wilderness guide so you can feel safe on our outings.