Knowing The Land

‘knowing the land’ is the guiding idea and central focus for plant and pigment. it is the place i set out from and the point i return to with my notes, drawings and handfuls of earth

Knowing: to know and relate to something deeply, like a friend. To know a landscape in this way may require multiple forms of knowledge, be it scientific or indigenous, observed or experienced.

The Land: referring to landscapes big and small and all that they’re made of. This includes the plants, fungi, animals (including humans), microbes, soils, rocks, seasons, cycles, weather and stories.

Below is an outline of how the concept of Knowing The Land can be practically applied to one’s life or creative practice through the method of ‘gather, process, make’.

Gather, Process, Make

Working with foraged colours can transform one’s creative practice through connection to the materials used for making art and opening up fresh opportunities for experimentation and play:

• Gathering colours and materials requires us to get outside, observe our surroundings more closely and to learn the names of the different plants and rocks around us.

• Processing the materials gives a deeper understanding of them and also creates time for the processing of our own thoughts, emotions and ideas in preparation for making.

• To make something from materials that we have gathered and processed can give additional inspiration, meaning and depth to one’s work, with each brush stroke carrying its own complex story.

Plant and Pigment aims to create opportunities and inspiration for others to make their own foraged colours and to encourage a collective desire to ‘get to know’ the land.

Below are more details on the method of ‘gather, process, make’ which could be incorporated into one’s creative toolkit. To learn more and get to grips with foraging for colours and the practical craft of making your own pigments, inks and paints you can sign up to future workshops here.