Natural Inks Workshop @ The Gathering Yurt

Discover the hidden colours of the land. Using inks made from foraged materials from Dufferin County, this immersive workshop invites you to experiment, explore, and create.

All materials provided. All levels welcome.

During the workshop, we will begin with a short introduction to the journey and process, including how the inks are made and the differences between inks and dyes. Participants are then invited to play! Experimenting with the inks, learning simple techniques, and observing how pH levels can dramatically alter colour. Each session is unique and responsive, shaped by the questions and interests that arise within the group. The workshops are designed to spark curiosity, rekindle creative interests, and open new pathways for connection: both to the natural world and to ourselves.

Dufferin Foraged Inks harvests and creates handmade inks using foraged biological materials: plants, nuts, and berries, sourced from Dufferin County. With backgrounds in wellness and education, their work is rooted in slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and rediscovering creativity through natural materials.

They produce small-batch inks, ornaments, and hand-painted cards, and offer immersive workshops where participants are guided to explore colour, mark-making, and creative expression using pigments derived directly from the land. Foraging naturally intersects with traditional health practices, food, art, and ancestral ways of living more closely with the land and its seasonal offerings.

Please meet the Artists of Dufferin Foraged Inks:

Darlene Hostrawser grew up on a farm in Dufferin County and trained as a textile artist at the Sheridan School of Craft and Design, followed by an apprenticeship with Edna Blackburn in Caledon. She maintained an in-home studio and exhibited her work across Ontario. Alongside her art practice, Darlene built a career in the field of Mental Health. Designing and delivering creative programs for those who seek relief from anxiety and depression was an important role in assisting individuals with improving health and wellness.

Fabienne Good is an artist, designer, maker, and educator who also grew up on a farm in Dufferin County. She pursued her passion of art and design at OCAD University before completing a Master of Fine Arts in Education and Public Art in Europe. Fabienne has spent over 15 years living and working internationally, teaching art and design across Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. She has always enjoyed immersing herself into new cultures, settings and situations. She works in a variety of media and is passionate about sharing the importance of creativity.