Introduction to Natural Dyeing
October 7 – October 28, 2025 | 1:30–4 p.m.
Location: High Museum of Art, Blue Workshop, Greene Family Education Center
Registration Required
Not a member? Join today!
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class. Participants will also have the opportunity to exhibit select works in a Studio Classes student exhibition opening in December.
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class. Participants will also have the opportunity to exhibit select works in a Studio Classes student exhibition opening in December.
Explore how plants, minerals, and other natural materials can be used to dye fabric with rich, layered, and often unexpected results. Learn foundational dyeing techniques and experiment with color, pattern, and texture as you create a series of dyed textile samples. Along the way, connect your creative process to artists and traditions highlighted in the museum’s collection, discovering how people across time and cultures have used natural dye to tell stories, preserve heritage, and celebrate the beauty of the natural world.
Week 1: Begin with an introduction to the history and possibilities of natural dyeing. Learn how color can be extracted from natural materials such as plants and minerals, and explore the processes of scouring, mordanting, and preparing fabric to receive color. Create your first dye baths using accessible, kitchen-friendly ingredients like onion skins, turmeric, and hibiscus, and witness how nature leaves its mark on cloth.
Week 2: Dive deeper into the art of layering and resist. Try techniques like bundle dyeing and folded resist to create organic prints and unexpected color variations. As your fabric samples begin to grow, gain insight into how temperature, fabric type, and plant sources affect results while learning to trust experimentation as part of the process.
Week 3: Begin to play with surface design. Using your naturally dyed fabrics, explore simple methods like printing, painting with thickened dye, or stitching to add texture and dimension. Build your visual language through shape, color, and pattern.
Week 4: Bring your samples together in a small textile collage or wall hanging that captures your personal journey through color and cloth. Explore simple finishing and display techniques and take time to reflect on what you have learned. Leave with a deeper appreciation for natural dyes, a collection of dyed and designed fabrics, and a tactile reminder of your creative exploration.
About Studio Classes
Expand your art-making skills through guided, step-by-step instruction with expert teaching artists. Over multiple weeks, you will learn alongside other creative adults and delve deeply into the artistic process, explore new techniques, and build your practice.
This is an introductory-level Studio Class; it is designed to accommodate all levels of skill and talent. If you have never taken a drawing class before, this is a great place to start. You will learn new skills that you can use in your artistic practice.
The registration fee includes all materials, weekly access to world-class art in the museum’s galleries, hours of expert instruction, and access to a Friday afternoon Open Studio during the run of the class. Participants will also have the opportunity to exhibit select works in a Studio Classes student exhibition opening in December.
About your Instructor
Loi Laing is a visual artist and educator specializing in fiber art, natural dyeing, earth pigments, and botanical inks. She is committed to sustainability and is passionate about connecting people with nature through art. Her workshops emphasize the use of locally sourced, ecofriendly materials, fostering creativity and respect for the environment. By sharing ancient techniques alongside contemporary approaches, Laing empowers participants to explore their artistic potential while honoring the earth. Her writing is featured in the book This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection (2021) by Jen Hewett.
Please note that in the event of a session being canceled, November 4 is reserved as a makeup date.
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