Making Nature Based Dyes for WaterColor Art

Did you know you can make nature based watercolor dyes? There are so many things just growing outside that are free and available for you to experiment with and make colors for your artful masterpiece. Of course it will depend on the season for what might be growing at the time, but you could easily improvise with what you may have on hand or find in a store near you. Below are some ideas to give you the colors you need. 

Blue/Purple: huckleberries, blueberries, grapes, red cabbage, wilted rose petals

 

Red: beets, red elderberry, strawberries, cherries, raspberries

 

Yellow/Orange: onion skins, golden beet, yellow turnip, celery leaves, carrots, turmeric

 

Green: peppermint, spinach, artichoke leaves

 

Brown: coffee, tea, red onion skins, walnut hulls and husks, bark and dried leaves

 

Black/Gray: wood/almond charcoal (burning wood or almond to produce a burnt residue)

 

Among these, there are so many other ideas that can give you colors of the rainbow to design your piece. You can experiment with basically anything and see just what beauty of color it gives you!

Enjoy!