Turkey Red Journal
DVD
Review: Natural Dye Workshop with Michel Garcia
By
Rebeca Schiller
 |
If you’re interested in taking a dye class with master dyer Michel Garcia, but don’t have the time to travel to one of his workshops, you can learn in the comfort of your own home by viewing the marvelous three hour instructional DVD, Natural Dye Workshop with Michel Garcia. The DVD is produced by famed textile artist Yoshiko Wada’s Slow Fiber Studios and Studio Galli Productions, starring Michel Garcia, |
| who gently guides viewers with detailed step-by-step instructions in making their own natural dyes with plants. | |
Filmed
at the exquisite Château de Lauris in the
Provençal village of Lauris, France, Disc 1 opens
with an overview of the Château’s expansive gardens
and its multiple plant varieties that make indigo and
other dyes. Viewers first meet Wada and Garcia in the
first few minutes of the program, and in this short
section Garcia provides a brief explanation of the
region’s dye and textile-making history. The fun
immediately begins with Garcia collecting woad leaves for
the first workshop where he demonstrates how to make an
indigo infusion.
One of
the highlights of this instructional DVD is how Garcia
meticulously illustrates the process of making the inky
pigment, which he titles "Indigo Vat 1-2-3!" In this
section, Garcia, like a master chef, lists all the tools
and ingredients that are required and slowly goes through
the process explaining the chemistry of each step.
Once
the indigo has been made, Garcia provides instruction on
how to make a resist paste. With the paste, Garcia paints
a design on a large piece of white fabric, allowing it to
dry. Once dried, the fabric is dipped in the indigo vat
for about a minute and then rinsed for another minute.
Garcia demonstrates how the resist process can be used
repeatedly to create more designs on the cloth with
varying shades of blue.
The
second DVD concentrates on mordant, brush techniques and
block printing. In addition, Garcia shows viewers how they
can create a yellow dye with artichoke leaves, and noting
the endless dye possibilities of a variety of plants they
can find in their own gardens.
Natural
Dye Workshop with Michel Garcia is an excellent
introduction for novice dyers, as well as for intermediate
ones who need a refresher course. To purchase the DVD,
please visit www.naturaldyeworkshop.com.
Natural Dye Workshop with
Michel Garcia
Colors of Provence
Using Sustainable Methods
Run time: 183 minutes, 2-disc set.
English narration and subtitles.
Produced by Slow Fiber Studios.
ASIN: B005MZALQG