Plant Colour by Raine
Plant and Earth Dyes
About
I am a visual artist focused on natural dyes, and on slow artistic processes that are kind to the earth. I am particularly drawn to dye plants from my own ancestry. It is humbling to practice the ways of my ancient european ancestors who lived in connection with the land. It is good to be in kind connection with the earth, something my settler ancestors abandoned.
I plant and tend dye plants in my west end garden, which I then use to dye and print on cotton and linen, which I then sew into useable items like pouches, paintbrush cases, and patches. I then use the leftover dye to make lake pigment (water insoluble powder pigment), which I then make into watercolour paint. I love to then create with those paints.
Artist Statement
Raine Hamilton (they/them) creates with joy, curiosity, and delight. Drawing, watercolour painting, print-making, music-making, and sewing all feature in Raine’s varied body of work.
Drawn to the land in a profound way, in their music career, Raine has created work that honours, respects and celebrates the land. From the east coast of this continent to the west, with long stops in the prairies and the mountains, the land appears in Raine’s songs again and again. Raine’s visual work follows suit. Plant and earth dyes, natural fibres and natural pigment watercolours are central to Raine’s work, which resonates like a chord connecting their heart to the land.
Queer identity and queer joy are also important to Raine, and are celebrated in their musical and visual work.
Processes
Plant dyes on natural fibres, bundle dyeing, pattern making, paint making, sewing.
Plant dyes on natural fibres. Indigo, marigold, madder, onion skin, avocado, tea, mushrooms and more. Immersion dyeing, bundle dyeing, eco printing.
Bundle dyeing. Patterns from flower petals bound tightly in treated cloth.
Pattern-making. Screen printing, block printing, and resists with plant dyes on natural fibre cloth and on paper.
Paint making. Plant dyes converted into lake pigments, bound into watercolour paints
Sewn items made with plant-dyed fabrics. Pouches, paint brush stands/cases, bandanas, patches
Markets
I sell my dyed and sewn items at a few markets throughout the year. I will update this section with market dates as I confirm them.
Please join my newsletter list if you would like to hear about future markets.
Workshops
I offer workshops in plant dyes, bundle dyeing, and paint making, for kids and/or adults. I have extensive experience working in schools, instructing, and leading workshops. Please inquire at raine@rainehamilton.com
Please join my newsletter list if you would like to hear about future workshops.