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About this course

Site: UAL Short Courses
Course: Botanical Paint and Print at Home
Book: About this course
Printed by: Guest user
Date: 22/02/26

Table of contents

Get Started

Before starting, please review the Learning Outcomes and Competencies to understand what you’ll gain from this course.

How to Use This Handbook:

  • Set aside about 15 minutes to familiarize yourself with the content.
  • Use the arrows to navigate through pages.
  • Refer to the 'Table of Contents' for specific sections. 👉

Course Overview

Key Themes:

  • Botanical Pigment Basics: Introduction to natural pigments, plant selection, and eco-friendly practices. 
  • Colour Extraction Techniques: Method for extracting vibrant colors from plants to use in various applications. 
  • Fabric Prep and Painting: Creating unique fabric paints, learn how to prepare fabric for application and how to set your designs. 
  • Sustainability in textiles: Emphasizing eco-conscious methods and using sustainable materials. 
  • Cultural and Historical Context: Understanding traditional paint making techniques from around the world 
  • Experimentation and Creativity: Encouraging personal expression through hands-on projects and colour combinations. 
  • Project-Based Learning: Building practical skills through guided demonstrations and a  final botanical textile print. 

Related Courses

Tutor Profile

Health and Safety Guidelines

  • Always work in a well-ventilated area.
  • Avoid ingesting any dye materials.
  • Wear protective gloves when handling mordants and dyes.
  • Wear a mask when handling any minerals to prevent inhalation
  • Clean up any spills immediately to prevent staining.
  • use dedicated non-food equipment
  • Be careful when using heat sources,
  • ask any questions to your tutor Emma if you have any concerns or questions at any stage

Materials

As you progress through each lesson, a dedicated materials list will be provided for each step, along with suggested suppliers.
The list below provides an overview for the whole course
Your tutor Emma can provide further information and guidance at each step if you have trouble identifying or sourcing individual ingredients

Suggested Suppliers:


Course equipment kits available , Dry Material, Equipment The Gathering Table https://www.thegatheringtable.co.uk/shop , 
Fish Glue: Conservation Resources https://conservation-resources.co.uk/products/fish-glue 
Cow Glue Stuart Stevenson https://shop.stuartstevenson.co.uk , 
Dry Dye Material and lake Livadenn https://www.livadenn.fr . 
Gum Arabic Mystic Moment . https://www.mysticmomentsuk.com/products/gum-arabic-powder-resinoids-gums-crystals
Dry Dye Material Bailiwick Blue, https://bailiwickblue.com , 
Dry Dye Material Green’ing , https://www.green-ingredients.com/en , 
Dry Dye Material and ingredients Wild Colors , https://www.wildcolours.co.uk , 
Dry Dye Material and ingredients George Weil, https://www.georgeweil.com, 
Aluminium Sulphate, Sodium Carbonate Inoxia, https://www.inoxia.co.uk/, 
Dry Dye Material and ingredients Aikuma, https://aikuma-japan.com/ , 

 

Materials: Minerals and Chemicals

  • Aluminium Sulphate – 200 g
  • Sodium Carbonate – 100 g (plus additional 11.25 g for specific recipes)
  • Oxalic Acid or Tartaric Acid
  • White Vinegar – 225 ml
  • Demineralised or Distilled Water – approx. 400 cl (plus extra for rinsing/storing)
  • Gum Arabic (used as a thickener)
  • Cow Glue (used as a stabilizer)
  • Fish Glue (used as a stabilizer)
  • Thymol Oil (optional, for preservation)
  • Synthrapol or Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) – for cleaning fabric

Plant Materials

  • Fresh plants gathered as part of the course, or dried plant matter which can be purchased (for pigment extraction)

Equipment for preparing and processing

Please ensure all equipment used is dedicated non-food equipment only

  • Access to a heat source (e.g., hob, stove, or hot plate)
  • Cooking pots (at least 2–3, heatproof cooking pots suitable for a stovetop).
  • Metal or glass bowls for measuring and weighing plant matter and minerals
  • Hand blender (for blending plant matter and mixing)
  • Blender (for dry plant matter)
  • Thermometer (for monitoring temperatures)
  • Digital kitchen scale (for accurate measurement of ingredients)
  • Wooden spoon or spatula (for stirring and scraping pigment)
  • Metal spoons (for measuring/picking up minerals)
  • Mini whisk (optional, for mixing paint)
  • Ladle or syringe (for removing clear liquid after settling)
  • Funnel
  • Sieve (for initial filtering)
  • Fabric or cotton filter (fine enough to catch pigment)
  • Material for assembling your own filter: (options for purchasing one is available if you do prefer not to make one yourself)
      – Cotton bedsheet
      – 20 cm cotton webbing
      – Sewing materials or sewing machine
      – Access to printer (for template)
  • Tall jar or vase
  • Several large glass jars with lids (for dye liquid and storage)
  • 1 L+ container with lid (for mixing)
  • Small plastic pots or jars (for weighing/storing pigments)
  • Paint palette (for mixing)
  • Drying rack or equivalent space to hang fabric to dry.
  • Bamboo or fabric steamer (e.g., bamboo steamer)
  • Washing machine (optional, for rinsing fabric)

Safety and Protection Equipment

  • Apron or protective clothing
  • Protective gloves (chemical and heat-resistant, rubber kitchen gloves should be suitable)
  • Dust mask or respirator (for powders)
  • Labels, masking tape, and markers (for jars and samples)
  • Dedicated non-food equipment only

Optional Tools for Creative Work

  • Embroidery hoop (for painting on fabric)
  • Frixion pen (optional, for stencils)
  • Scissors or craft knife
  • Spray Bottle
  • Set of brushes (various sizes)
  • squeegies
  • screen stencil
  • vinyl adhesive paper
  • Screen printing Kit
  • Craft knife and cutting mat

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

This course is committed to embedding UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice. The course is aimed at students who wish to design for possible futures. We value traditional techniques and resourcefulness. We encourage our students to be imaginative and inquisitive. We will do this by cultivating creative thinking and practices. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Understand the basics of botanical pigments and the types of plants commonly used for colour extraction. 
  • Collect, prepare, and store plant-based lakes. 
  • Produce and apply fabric paint made from botanical sources. 
  • Use botanical lakes to create textile paint. Experimenting with modifiers to achieve diverse and vibrant results. 
  • Explore different techniques and methods for applying your paint to textiles.
  • Complete a final project that demonstrates multiple techniques and methods learned throughout the course. 

Lesson Plan

  1. Introduction to Botanical Colours
  2. Extracting Botanical Colours 
  3. Creating Fabric Paint from Lake
  4. Preparing, painting and setting fabric
  5. Final Botanical Textile Print

Coursework

  1. Collecting Plant matter 
  2. Preparing your Hydrate
  3. Extracting Colours from Plants
  4. Mixing Fabric Paint
  5. Preparing Fabric for paint application
  6. Experiment with different painting techniques,
  7. Set your design on fabric by steaming
  8. Create a Final Botanical Textile Print

Coursework

Lesson 1: Introduction to Botanical Colours

Lesson 2: Extracting Botanical Colours

Lesson 3: Creating Fabric Paint

Lesson 4: Preparing, Painting and Setting Fabric

Lesson 5: Final Botanical Textile Print

How to Use this Course

1. Course Introduction:

Start by reviewing the learning outcomes and structure to understand the overall scope and how each lesson builds on the previous one. Ensure you have all the required materials before starting.

2. Lesson Flow:

Each lesson is broken into specific topics that build upon one another. Begin with Lesson 1: Introduction to Botanical Colours and proceed in order through each subsequent lesson.

3. Complete Coursework:

For each lesson, you'll be assigned a piece of coursework. These practical activities allow you to apply the theory and skills you're learning. For example, start by collecting local plant materials as part of your first task. Each coursework will guide you through applying your newfound knowledge. For each coursework assignment, there may be optional forums or self-reflection exercises to help reinforce your learning and share experiences with others.

4. Engage in Discussion Forums:

Participate in the provided Discussion forums for each coursework. These forums allow you to ask questions, share progress, and interact with others in the course for additional learning support.

5. Submit Coursework:

Complete each assignment (e.g., Coursework 1, Coursework 2) as outlined. Submit them via the course platform (if applicable) for feedback or evaluation. After completing Coursework 7, you will submit your final large textile print for feedback and reflection.

6. Self-Reflection:

After each coursework, take time to complete the self-reflection activities. These exercises allow you to assess your understanding, challenges faced, and your creative development throughout the course.

7. Final Project:

In Coursework 7, you will synthesize everything learned and create a large-scale botanical textile print. This will be a significant final project demonstrating your ability to apply all techniques you've learned.

8. Review Resources:

Use the additional resources and reading materials provided in each lesson to deepen your knowledge. These may include PDF guides, videos, articles, and reference lists on suppliers and techniques.

9. Feedback:

Depending on the course structure, feedback will be given either through the forums, light formative feedback from peers, or formal summative feedback after coursework submission.

10. Stay on Track:

Each lesson has an approximate time commitment (e.g., 30 minutes), but you can move through the content at your own pace. Plan your time to complete each section of the course before moving to the next. This approach ensures a thorough understanding of botanical dyeing from start to finish while encouraging practical engagement and self-expression.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment Overview:

This course includes a combination of practical assignments and self-reflection activities to assess your understanding and progress. Each lesson has its corresponding coursework that you must complete. The assignments range from collecting plant materials to applying techniques such as extracting botanical colours and pattern creation. The final assessment involves creating a botanical textile print, this could be for a portfolio of work, upcycling a piece of clothing or preparing a piece of art of hang in your home.

Types of Assessment:

  • Practical Coursework: For each lesson, you will complete a hands-on project, such as collecting materials, extracting colours, or painting fabric. These projects are assessed based on the application of the techniques learned in the lesson.
  • Self-Reflection: After completing each piece of coursework, you'll engage in self-reflection to assess your learning and creative progress. This exercise helps you identify areas of improvement and what excites you most about the process. Use the forums to share your experience, ask questions and help fellow learners.
  • Final Project: The final assessment is a large-scale botanical textile print, which synthesizes all the techniques you've learned. You will be expected to create a print that showcases your style and ability to apply various painting methods effectively.

Feedback Structure:

Feedback will be provided throughout the course to guide your learning journey and ensure continuous improvement. Here's how feedback will be structured:

  • Formative Feedback: You'll receive light touch formative feedback from peers and your tutor Emma, through the course's Q&A forums. This feedback is designed to help you make adjustments to your work as you progress. Share photos, ask questions and your tutor can help guide you through each lesson.
  • Peer Feedback: Engage with other learners by sharing your coursework in forums and receiving constructive feedback from your peers. This will give you additional insights and allow for collaborative learning.
  • Summative Feedback: At the end of the course, you will receive detailed feedback on your final project submission. This feedback will assess your overall understanding and the quality of your large-scale textile print.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Creativity and Innovation: How well do you apply the techniques and methods to create something unique and expressive? Does your work show personal style and experimentation?
  • Technical Skill: How well do you execute the techniques in colour extraction, experimenting with modifiers,  fabric preparation, and pattern creation? Are the materials used in the assignments effectively transformed into the desired outcomes?
  • Application of Techniques: How effectively do you use the learned techniques to achieve the desired result in each coursework assignment? This includes extracting botanical pigments, creating your botanical lakes and transforming them into paint, applying the botanical paints, creating patterns, and finishing the final project.
  • Completion and Presentation: Did you complete all assignments and meet the deadlines? How well is your final project presented, and does it demonstrate an understanding of the course objectives?

Submitting Your Work:

All coursework should be submitted via the course platform (if applicable). You will upload your final project along with any self-reflection answers and supporting materials. Late submissions may result in delayed feedback, so be sure to stay on track with the course schedule.

Reflection on Feedback:

Once you receive feedback, take time to reflect on the comments and suggestions. This is your opportunity to learn from your mistakes and successes, applying those insights to future creative endeavors. Feedback is a crucial part of your growth, so embrace it as a tool for improvement.

Completion and Certification

To successfully complete this course, learners must meet the following minimum completion conditions:

  • Complete all coursework: Submit all practical assignments, including collecting plant matters, extracting colours, following the demonstrations and replicating the process to create botanical paints, preparing fabric, and setting designs into fabric.
  • Complete the final project: Submit a large-scale botanical textile print that synthesizes the techniques learned throughout the course.

Upon meeting these conditions, learners will receive a completion certificate for the course.