EARTH PIGMENT OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP AT TAOS ART MUSEUM
Saturday, June 29th, 2024 noon to 4 pm
Sunday, June 30th, 2024 noon to 4 pm
Come learn to make oil paint made from the land, in relationship with our earth. A two day workshop in the garden at Taos Art Museum on how to make oil paint from dirt, rock, and oil, and how to establish a non-toxic, plant and mineral based oil painting practice. On the first day we'll gather soil and minerals, then grind them into refined pigments and begin the process for making fine art grade paint. On the second day we'll learn how to mix the earth and mineral pigment into a binder to make oil paint. We’ll look at non-toxic, archival sources for oil, thinner, gesso, and varnish. We'll end our time painting color study meditations with the oil paint we've made from the earth under the western sky.
No previous experience required, all skill levels and backgrounds are welcome.
SCHEDULE
Saturday
We'll begin with a history of natural pigments and reciprocal, leave-no-trace practices for collecting. Then we'll collect our own dirt and rocks, break them down, and begin the water refinement process to create fine art grade natural pigments.
Sunday
On the second day we'll learn how to mix binders into the refined pigments and how to store them in canisters for long term use. Then we'll experiment with making our own paintings using the oil paint made from earth. Each participant will take home oil paint made from New Mexico dirt and rock, the skills to make their own paint from the land, and the ability to remove all toxic and petroleum based products from their oil painting practice while creating archival earth and mineral pigment oil paintings.
MATERIALS
Because in this workshop we welcome all backgrounds and levels of experience, we understand some of you may already have all or most of the required tools while others have none. With that understanding we offer two options for materials: you may bring your own or you may purchase them from us and have them waiting at the workshop for you.
Required materials:
mortar and pestle made of marble, stone, or ceramic (wood will not work)
fine sieve and funnel (one used for canning jam is fine)
a spoon for collecting dirt and rock
oil painting brush
small cups with lids for storing paint
small bottles with lids for storing pigments
a gessoed canvas or wood panel for painting
paper palette
palette knife
titanium White oil paint, in a tube or as pigment
cotton rags (an old t shirt or dish towel works great)
one biodegradable trash bag
en plein air travel easel (optional); we will have easels set up on tables to share but if you have a travel easel you’d like to bring you are welcome to
SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of scholarships are available, with a priority going to BIPOC. Taos Art Museum has graciously offered to supply all the tools and materials for scholarship recipients. To apply for a scholarship please see here.
TRAVEL AND LODGING
Workshop participants are responsible for their own travel to and lodging in Taos.
REFUND POLICY
Due to the nature of these workshops and how much long term planning and preparation goes into each one, refunds cannot be given. Exchanging a workshop ticket for a future Earth Pigment Paint Making Workshop may be possible and will be considered on a case by case basis.
We hope you will join us in learning the Art of Paint Making from dirt and rock.
All photographs by Stella Maria Baer of earth and mineral pigments made from dirt and rock except the last one of Fechin House at the Taos Art Museum, courtesy of the Taos Art Museum.