Lucy Mayes: Transmuting The Oak

Saturday 7 June
2:30pm-4pm

Please note:
Suitable for beginners/ no previous knowledge of pigment making necessary. 
Ages from 13 and above. Children to be supervised by an adult.
Bring a sketchbook and empty vessels for taking away pigment & ink

Join pigment maker & researcher Lucy Mayes (of London Pigment @londonpigment) for an immersive exploration into the rich history of pigment making from the venerable oak tree. This hands-on 90-minute workshop delves into the colour making traditions surrounding the Quercus family, revealing how oak has long been a source of colour.

Through live demonstrations, Lucy will guide participants in the art of crafting pigments and paint from various parts of the oak: bark, galls, acorns, and more. You’ll witness the transformation of raw natural materials into luminous lake pigments, warm tannin dyes, and velvety carbon blacks. She will show you how alkaline fixatives can be made from oak ash to help elongate the lightfastness of dye based colorants.

Participants will leave with a deeper appreciation for the oak’s hidden palette, as well as practical recipes and techniques for creating historical botanical pigments using several species of the Quercus family.

Note: Recipes will emphasise the use of found and waste-stream materials, with ethical foraging practices thoughtfully discussed throughout the workshop.

Tickets: FREE, but places are limited so booking is essential here on Eventbrite.

Further info.: Read more about Lucy on the above Eventbrite page.

Any questions on accessibility or otherwise, please contact Kim Hart on khart@lambeth.gov.uk

This event is part of the celebrations to mark the completion of a six year National Lottery Heritage Fund project: 'A New Beginning' designed to conserve the Cemetery’s magnificent landscape and architecture, as well as offer new experiences and facilities to increase community use.

You are invited to join us from Friday 30 May through to Sunday 8 June, when the cemetery will be host to a wide range of free events and activities. For some you will need to pre-book, like this one, others you can just turn up.
Please especially join us on Saturday 31 May at 11am for the Grand Re-Opening Ceremony at the Main Entrance.