Natural Watercolor Paint Making: Create Beautiful Pigments at Home Using Botanicals, Vegetables and Other Foraged Materials by Joanne Green

Create your own botanical pigments and build a supply of colorful, non-toxic watercolor paints with the help of this comprehensive guide. Through simple tutorials, you’ll learn to extract pigments from natural materials, such as leaves, vegetables and flowers, and turn them into vibrant watercolors―no harsh chemicals or specialty tools needed! With a few mason jars, plants from your backyard and a handful of ingredients, you can build a palette of natural hues that gives your art a distinctive, gorgeous look.

Every tutorial includes step-by-step directions and a host of pictures that guide you through the process. Discover the joy of transforming onion skins into a golden yellow paint, or sunflower seeds into a deep rose pigment. Extract a range of blues from red cabbage, and earth tones like coffee brown from orange pekoe tea. With additional information on storing your paints so they stay fresh, using them in fun activities and connecting to the environment as you go, this special book provides everything you need to make watercolor paints with success.

Review Quotes:

"This book is more than a guide, it is an experience--one that invites you to pause, explore and create in harmony with nature. Every page celebrates the magic of transforming botanicals into color with your own hands. Joanne has created a wonderful resource for anyone looking to bring sustainability and nature into their creative practice!"
-- Rachael Tancock, The Nature Educator

"Absolute gold! Joanne hands you the keys to the kingdom of natural watercolor making. Her recipes unlock the mysteries of this ancient craft and will inspire you to create your own treasure chest of colors."
-- Leslie Stroz, artist and professor

"This collection of natural recipes and instructions can guide anyone into being a paint maker! Given as a present, or read for pleasure, this book gives the gift of being able to take small bits of the world around you and transform them into special paints to treasure and use."
-- Bergette Pigments

Joanne Green is an artist and the leading educator on natural paint making. She is best known for sharing approachable tutorials on pigment extraction on her popular social media accounts Joanne Green Art. Joanne lives on the west coast of Canada.

Page Street Publishing

Pub Date: June 24, 2025

6.95 x 0.35 x 8.95 inches

160 pages

paperback