Written By Janne Lee

How to Make Natural Lake Pigments Using African Marigolds, Goldenrod & Oak Leaves

The art of creating lake pigments is part alchemy, part earth magic. It’s a beautiful way to transform the fleeting beauty of plant-based dyes into permanent, lightfast pigments you can use in watercolors, inks, and paint. In this post, I’ll walk you through the steps of creating lake pigments — with plants bursting with color and rich in tannins.

What Is a Lake Pigment?
Lake pigments are created by precipitating natural dyes onto a mineral base—typically using a mordant like alum and a base like soda ash or lime. This process transforms a liquid dye bath into a usable pigment powder.

Materials You’ll Need

  • Fresh or dried African marigolds, goldenrod blossoms, or any other pigment rich plant

  • Alum (aluminum sulfate)

  • Soda ash (sodium carbonate) or calcium carbonate

  • Non-reactive pots (stainless steel or enamel)

  • Strainer or cheesecloth

  • coffee filters

  • clothes pins

  • Glass jars or containers

  • Gloves and mask for handling powders

Steps to Create Your Lake Pigment

  1. 1. Extract the Dye:
    Simmer your plant material in water for 30–60 minutes. Strain the liquid to remove plant solids.

  2. 2. Mordant the Dye Bath:
    Add a solution of alum to the dye bath. Stir gently. This binds the dye to a future substrate.

  3. 3; Precipitate the Pigment:
    Slowly add soda ash or calcium carbonate to raise the pH and cause the dye to precipitate. You’ll notice the liquid thickening and color settling out.

  4. 4. Filter:
    Carefully pour pigment mixture through a coffee filter pinned to your glass jar. Rinse the pigment residue with clean water and let it settle again.

  5. 5. Rinse:

    Pour distilled water over your pigment 3 times to cleanse

  6. 6. Dry the Pigment:
    Remove your coffee filter with pigment and let it dry thoroughly before grinding into a fine powder.

Tips:

  • Experiment with pH changes for color shifts

  • Mix with natural binders to create paints or inks

  • Label your pigment jars with plant, date, and location

How to Make Natural Lake Pigments Using African Marigolds, Goldenrod & Oak Leaves

Janne Lee

Fine Artist
Copyright © 2022 Janné Lee llc

To intertwine the beauty of nature with artistic expression, forging a path where botanical artistry meets innovation. Through

exploration, creation, and the fusion of natural elements, my mission is to inspire a profound connection between art and the

environment. My commitment lies in celebrating the harmony between artistic vision and the natural world where artistry and

nature converge.