James Meyers Book Arts

Dye

I started exploring natural dyes to expand the colors of case weight paper and book cloth I could use in my projects. The alchemical process of dyeing with natural colors feels so close to having magic powers, it was impossible not to develop a small obsession. The colors have a depth and life that is nearly impossible to mimic synthetically. And foraging for dyestuff and using it in a project makes me feel connected to, and in conversation with, my environment.

Stack of long-stitch, exposed sewing bindings. Of thre three spines visible, one is green, one is red, and one is a yellow-orange.
Closeup of an indigo vat.
Close-up of an indigo vat
A fanned-out stack of case weight paper dyed various colors.
A display of folded fabrick squares and small skeins of yarn dyed pinks, yellows, and oranges.
Five small cardboard spools of linen thread in buckthorn green, madder red, cochineal and two darker reddish/maroon-ish colors.
Hand-dyed linen thread
Fabric squares dyed black with white tape lines intersecting throughout.
Handkerchiefs in progress
Geometric design with shapes of purple and blue and yellow hues with intersecting white lines throughout.
Geometric design with dye paste
A piece of fabric dyed with indigo showcasing white bound-resist circles over a sea of blue.
Indigo with bound resists