Oh, Shift! Using pH Adjustments to Extract Pigment and Modify Colors From Madder
Some natural dyes are more sensitive than other to changes in pH. Both species of madder that I have been using recently, Rubia cordifolia and Rubia tinctoria (or tinctorum) fall into that category. In this post, I am specifically talking about Rubia cordifolia (RC), which is the species that grows in India and is widely used around the world today, though its historic uses stem from India, Africa, and, later, Europe. I started out with two different batches of RC. One appeared a golden yellow, almost like turmeric, when it arrived. The other appears more of a dark terra cotta color. Since the yellow one was already opened for a…
An Adventure Begins!
I have only started adding blog posts to this website, but those of you who have been following me on social media and through Griffin Dyeworks already know that this is a very exciting time for me! Last fall, I learned that I had earned a 14-week artist residency for natural dyeing at the Camera Obscura Art Lab (COAL) in Santa Monica, California. During my residency, I will be focused on working with madder dye, which produces a vibrant color range and, when done properly, color that lasts for centuries. I’ll be looking at historical and modern formulations and applications of madder dye while producing wearable art, upcycled art, and decorative…
