After the success of the ink experiment I wanted to see if I could create the same effects using a home made natural dye. Using avocado stones I wanted to create a brick dark pink colour. I boiled the stones with water and salt until the natural pigment became deeper and more concentrated. I wanted to explore both controlled and uncontrolled approaches to colouring the sphere forms.
For this experiment I used spheres made using corn flour glue, so I was worried that when they became saturated with water that they would disintegrate and loose their shape. I dipped one of the forms and painted onto the other to experiment if there would be a difference to how the dye would disperse through the forms. I really enjoy how this dye looks they remind me of the natural decomposition or rusting you get on the edges of leaves, funguses or plants.
Surprisingly the spheres held their shape pretty well and the dye seemed to disperse through the forms well. I really like how the colour has worked out with the paper, this is paper I created using an embroidery hoop and the colour picks our the deckled edge well, making it look aged but also exaggerating the shape as the ink traveled through the paper. moving Forward i am hoping to experiment more with home made natural dye and if i can using things i have collected, this is also dependent on if I can find materials that contain tannin, which may be harder to come by this time of year.
Lara Hoad Artist Designer: Maker 