W25

The Colours of the Mühlviertel – Creating a Custom Watercolour Palette from Locally Sourced Earths and Stones

Fri 21 – Sun 23 May 2027

Colour is all around us in our daily lives – but how it's actually made usually remains hidden. In this course, we will develop our own watercolour palette from natural materials such as earths and stones, following historical methods of colour production.
On the first day, we will explore the surroundings and consciously collect suitable materials. During this process, we will learn to identify stones that can be used for making pigments. Additionally, we will create a simple binder for watercolour paints.
On the second day, we will focus on the preparation and processing of pigments. We will work with selected mineral pigments such as ochre, malachite, and azurite, learn about historical methods, and prepare the materials for painting. The pigments will then be ground into paints and assembled into an individual palette. Afterwards, we will test the paints and conclude with an outlook on further pigments and additional binders.

Group of participants:Everyone interested in colour, materials and nature
Requirements:No, enjoyment of experimental work
Number of participants:max. 12 people
Course times:Fri: 17:00-20:00, Sat: 09:00-13:00 and 14:30-18:00, Sun: 09:00-13:00
Course fee:230 Euros, for students 210 Euros (excluding material costs)

Course leadership: FRANZISKA GRAF, Austria
Born in 1994, lives and works in Styria and on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, freelance artist, entrepreneur and lecturer. Studied Business Administration and Art History in Vienna. Since 2021, has focused on natural materials and pigments in her artistic practice.
More info: franziskagraf.at