“Little Prairie Pigments was based on a study of how to dye paper. I wanted to answer what is the best method to dye paper using plants and pigments. This involved a process of different tests that studied what mordant is the best to use, which plants native to the area give color, and what effect resists give on the paper. Through a series of tests, I determined which methods give the best result. After this, I finished a final booklet to present the final dyed papers. Through this exploration, I was able to learn a lot about paper and how natural plants interact in the process. The final compositions are artistic renderings of nature that I would love to continue to explore. Through this scientific process, I enlightened a passion for natural dye within myself. This project goes hand in hand with the arising concerns about mass consumption. By exploring natural clean methods, we can lessen our environmental impact. From an artistic lens, this may serve as a substitute for future pigments and artistic renderings. This process was also a remnant of natural screen-printing methods on fabric and paper. The uses of natural printing may be a future we may look forward to.”

— Claudia Filinger