Three artists have used onion skins, gum leaves and indigo to dye beautiful cashmere wool, soft silks and thick papers in Plant Dyed, the new exhibition that opened last Friday night at The Uralla Print Gallery.
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About 60 people attended the opening of works by Rhonda Ellem from Armidale, Kirsten Ingemar from Brunswick Heads, and Enid Taylor from Ocean Shores, which runs until September 18.
The artists have used natural dyes from local plants in their pieces and Rhonda Ellem and Kirsten Ingemar will teach their techniques at Go Create! next year.
Rhonda Ellem dyes silk with leaves of Buddleia, mistletoe and eucalyptus and then prints designs on the naturally coloured fabric.
Her cushions made of silk de chine are delightfully soft. Rhonda also has etchings on paper dyed with fig and pistachio leaves on show.
Kirsten Ingemar uses coastal hibiscus, grevilleas and the elusive Eucalyptus cinerea to colour and print lambswool and cashmere wraps, scarves and silk cushions. So beautiful to touch, in delicate shades of browns and grey. She also has natural dyed fabrics covering blank journals for sale.
Enid Taylor dyed lambswool wraps and cotton with indigo using the Japanese shibori technique to make vibrant deep blue and white patterns.
She has also stitched dyed wool to make sculptural pieces, and perfected the technique of using plant dyes on paper. Her eucalyptus leaves on paper are dyed with marigold, and expose the tiny details of the leaves in fabulous shades of yellows, oranges, browns and greys.
