Led by artist and instructor Elissa Callen, learn how to identify and harvest “invasive” plants of the Bay Area autumnal landscape and turn them into inks for your painterly proclivities. This course will begin with an introduction to local plants and ecology, a short plant walk with applicable plant harvesting, and will follow with step-by-step guidance on how to make inks. Attendees will have the opportunity to play with the inks we make together as a class and leave with color swatches, small paintings, and a bottle of carefully crafted invasive plant ink.

The class will go over:

⁕ Introduction to Bay Area native plants, invasive plants, and identification

⁕ Considerations in botanical and scientific terminology

⁕ Sustainable harvesting and processing etiquette

⁕ Autumnal invasive pigment plants in the Bay Area

⁕ Native and invasive plant-walk around the Fibershed Learning Center on Black Mountain Ranch

⁕ Tools and materials for ink making, from harvesting to painting

⁕ In-depth process of making inks, stretching ink hues, and saving for future use

⁕ Introduction to alternative methods in color processing

⁕ In-class ink experimentation

⁕ Reference resources for further research on native and invasive plant research

Please bring:

▴ Personal snacks, lunch, water bottle

▴ Notebook and pen/sketchbook

▴ Sunhat/sunscreen

▴ Clothing you are comfortable with getting dirty or stained

▴ Comfortable closed-toe shoes for walking on uneven terrain

▴ Personal watercolor paper (optional)

▴ Favorite brushes (optional)

▴ An article or photo of something you are working on to share with the group (optional)

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Register Here: eventbrite.com/e/697171477657

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Instructor Bio:

Elissa Callen is an ecological artist working with local plants and fungi to make natural inks and pigments she uses as the staple materials in her art practice. She holds a BFA in painting, has a professional background in horticulture, and has nearly ten years of experience using natural, locally gathered materials sustainably for color. Her practice is informed by her research in California ecology and the impact invasive plant species have on native biodiversity.

She has taught with institutions throughout California including Theodore Payne Foundation, Point Reyes National Seashore, Save the Bay, numerous mycological societies, and more. She believes in using her work with sustainable natural materials as a means of increasing community interest in environmentalism, preservation, and connectedness to the native landscape.

Website: elissacallen.com

IG: slateandrust

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This class will take place both inside and outside the Fibershed Learning Center and will involve some walking/hiking on uneven mixed terrain areas.

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Tuition Scholarships & Transportation/Childcare Stipends

Fibershed offers one to two scholarships per workshop depending on the size of the class. In addition to scholarships for tuition, we are offering a limited number of stipends for transportation and/or childcare. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship and/or stipend recipient, please answer a few brief questions on this Google Form. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

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Cancellation Policy: Refunds (minus Eventbrite fees) are available up to 7 days before the event. If you cancel after 7 days before the event, we are unable to provide refunds unless we can fill your space from the waitlist. If someone who is waitlisted purchases your space, we will refund your ticket, minus the Eventbrite fees. Otherwise, there will be no refunds. You are also welcome to transfer your ticket to someone who wishes to purchase it directly from you.

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BONUS: The Clothing Swap Closet is now open during workshops and events at the Fibershed Learning Center!

Visit the Clothing Swap Closet when you attend a workshop or event at the Learning Center and exchange your natural fiber garments and accessories. Your clothing contributions must be clean and in good condition. Each contribution entitles you to choose one item of comparable value. You may depart up to an hour after the workshop ends, to allow time to browse and try on items in the closet, and make your trade!

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