Natural Paints, Pigments and Dyes with Indiana
Dive into the centuries-old craft of natural pigment-making in picturesque Oaxaca with visual artist Indiana. Explore the history, chemistry, and sustainability of organic, mineral, and Mayan Blue pigments as you craft your own watercolors from local plant and insect dyes. Deepen your experience by exploring additional techniques like ink-making and fabric dyeing, all while savoring traditional Oaxacan delicacies, enjoying a glass of tejate, and soaking in breathtaking views.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $945
- Additional guest(s) (max 4)
- USD $360
Meet the Artist
Indiana is a visual artist with nearly 15 years of experience crafting natural paints and pigments from Oaxaca’s materials using centuries-old knowledge. Raised across Latin America, the U.S., and Europe before settling in Oaxaca at eight, she developed a deep appreciation for traditional artistic techniques.
She honed her passion for pigments through apprenticeships in natural dyeing, fresco, oil painting, lithography, and gravure. Over the past decade, she has researched and revived historical pigments, combining fieldwork in Mexican villages with scientific study. This led her to rediscover and reformulate the cochineal lake and Mayan blue.
Her practice centers on creating natural pigments from Oaxaca’s minerals and plants. Committed to sustainability, she develops non-toxic, solvent-free watercolor and oil paints. Today, she produces ten unique pigments, from earthy reds to deep greens and vibrant fuchsias—each a fusion of technique, research, and storytelling. She also maintains a rich artistic practice in oil painting and pastels, exploring the ambiguity of the human condition through fairy tales, sacred art, and Jungian archetypes.
Believing art bridges consumerism and ecology, Indiana shares the history and sustainability of pigments through teaching. Her approach is both technical and meditative, helping others reconnect with the natural world. She is excited to welcome you to her homestead, complete with mushroom and plant cultivation, bioconstruction, and a few friendly farm animals!
She honed her passion for pigments through apprenticeships in natural dyeing, fresco, oil painting, lithography, and gravure. Over the past decade, she has researched and revived historical pigments, combining fieldwork in Mexican villages with scientific study. This led her to rediscover and reformulate the cochineal lake and Mayan blue.
Her practice centers on creating natural pigments from Oaxaca’s minerals and plants. Committed to sustainability, she develops non-toxic, solvent-free watercolor and oil paints. Today, she produces ten unique pigments, from earthy reds to deep greens and vibrant fuchsias—each a fusion of technique, research, and storytelling. She also maintains a rich artistic practice in oil painting and pastels, exploring the ambiguity of the human condition through fairy tales, sacred art, and Jungian archetypes.
Believing art bridges consumerism and ecology, Indiana shares the history and sustainability of pigments through teaching. Her approach is both technical and meditative, helping others reconnect with the natural world. She is excited to welcome you to her homestead, complete with mushroom and plant cultivation, bioconstruction, and a few friendly farm animals!
VAWAA Includes:
- Learn to make watercolors using organic, mineral, and Mayan Blue pigments.
- Explore Oaxacan plants, insects, and earths used in pigment creation, and study their chemistry and history.
- Create natural dyes, organic lake pigments, and extract mineral pigments from local earths.
- Craft a simple watercolor medium and mix with the natural pigments to produce paint.
- Discover the history and chemistry of Indigo and Mayan Blue.
- Create Mayan Blue, a blend of permanent blue and green pigments made from Indigo extract and clays.
- Enjoy a traditional Oaxacan meal at a local restaurant and visit nearby artist studios.
- If time permits, visit Teotitlán del Valle to meet a family specializing in textiles and natural dyes.
- Unwind with a glass of mezcal on Indiana’s terrace, admire the picturesque view, and savor Tejate, Huayapam’s traditional beverage made from cacao, maize, mamey seed, and Rosita, a local flower.
- Option to extend the duration to explore additional techniques, including making inks, gouache, or oil paints, applying them to various surfaces, preparing those surfaces for different painting techniques like frescos, and using natural dyes to dye yarn and fabric.
Explore Oaxaca
Indiana's studio is located in San Andrés Huayapam, a picturesque Zapotec village at the foothills of the Sierra Norte, just 15 minutes from Oaxaca City. Known for its freshwater springs, lush hills, and ancestral drink tejate—a frothy maize and cacao beverage—it embodies the region’s deep cultural and ecological heritage. The village is home to artisans, healers, and farmers who continue centuries-old traditions, making it a haven for those seeking a slower, more intentional way of life. Its proximity to Oaxaca City, a hub of ateliers, museums, and galleries, creates a dynamic connection between Indigenous craftsmanship and contemporary artistic exploration. It is here, surrounded by the wisdom of naturalists and textile dyers from nearby villages like Teotitlán del Valle, that Indiana refines her craft, sourcing pigments from native plants and minerals to create vibrant, historically rooted colors.
Additional Details
Oaxaca is a wonderful destination year-round, with the most pleasant weather in summer (June-August) and winter (October-February). If you're not specifically interested in holiday traditions, it's best to avoid peak seasons like Semana Santa (Easter), Christmas, Día de los Muertos, and Guelaguetza (mid-July), when prices rise and gets crowded with tourists.
This session can be extended for up to 10 days for a more immersive session transforming pigments into other art media like inks, gouache, crayons, fresco, and oil paint. Please add a note in your booking request.
Children 8 years and older, accompanied by a guardian, as well as elders and individuals with special needs, are welcome to attend. However, please note that the studio has stairs and is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. Indiana also has some animals, including chickens and dogs, in the outdoor areas of her property.
Indiana speaks fluent English and Spanish, and she can understand Italian and Portuguese.
This session can be extended for up to 10 days for a more immersive session transforming pigments into other art media like inks, gouache, crayons, fresco, and oil paint. Please add a note in your booking request.
Children 8 years and older, accompanied by a guardian, as well as elders and individuals with special needs, are welcome to attend. However, please note that the studio has stairs and is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. Indiana also has some animals, including chickens and dogs, in the outdoor areas of her property.
Indiana speaks fluent English and Spanish, and she can understand Italian and Portuguese.