These practice-based tutorials explore a year and half of experimentation, raw material foraging, and pigment processing to produce oil and watercolour paints.

Foraging, Processing and Painting with Natural Pigments is a six-part video series by artist Kim Sachs. These practice-based tutorials explore a year and half of experimentation, raw material foraging, and pigment processing to produce oil and watercolour paints. The short films act as both a documentation of creative practice and an instructional guide for anyone beginning to explore painting using natural and sustainable sourced materials.

For this project, Kim Sachs’ artistic journey begins first with an appreciation of nature, acknowledging that collecting pigments from the living world is not merely an artistic pursuit but a way of connecting deeply with the environment. For Kim, moving to Australia led to a longing for that connection with nature and home. Reminiscing about the early days of painting under trees, surrounded by fallen leaves and twigs embedded into the paint, Sachs found her most creative and free moments amidst earth tones and a soothing breeze.

“There are many ways to process pigment. Making natural paints involves listening, respecting and collaborating with what’s around us. Most of the locations and raw materials shown have been sourced across the lands of the Kulin Nation with acknowledgement of traditional custodians and respect to all Elders–past and present–and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” – Kim Sachs.

“This project was made possible thanks to Trocadero Projects who produced the idea, worked with and encouraged me to create this documentary. Thank you to musician, Ben Masirewa, for being supportive and creating beautiful music for these videos.” – Kim Sachs.