Heather with a Long-eared Owl
hello, I’m Heather
I’m a scientist and an artist. Art and science have been my two passions since childhood. When it came time to choose a career path science won out, though throughout my education I fit in art classes when I could and eventually completed my master’s degree studying migratory birds.
I’ve especially been interested in the overlap of science and art ever since a beloved high school science teacher and amazing artist demonstrated that the two seemingly disparate disciplines have a lot in common. She changed my life for the better and introduced me to many new things, one of which was natural dyes.
about natural dyes
I make all of my dyes in small batches in my home studio. Many of the dye materials are sourced locally or come from my own garden. Natural dyes are a tangible way to connect with the natural world, they retain the essence of the plant, fungi, lichen, insect, gastropod, or mineral they are derived from and have a depth and harmony not found in modern synthetic dyes.
Natural dyes have been used to color textiles for millennia. Some of the first dyes used by prehistoric humans were iron oxides (rust) and the highly prized blue of indigo has been used since around 3500 BC. The first synthetic dyes were developed in the mid 19th century and by the turn of the 20th century natural dyes were largely replaced by synthetics.
Artists and craftspeople have kept this ancient art form alive and I intend to help it continue into the 21st century.
Indigo dyed silk fresh from the vat
ART + science
Creating with natural dyes is very much an art and a science. Many variables, including pH, temperature, mordants/modifiers, plant species, time of year, and local growing conditions can all affect natural dyes. I get to use my knowledge of ecology, botany, and chemistry to create unique and beautiful works of art, but sometimes even the most carefully planned dye batch yields surprising results.