Eco-artist goes back to nature
Botanical dyeing business booms
‘‘ I LOVE WAKING UP TO THE FINISHED PRODUCT - IT’S JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS, YOU NEVER KNOW HOW IT’S GOING TO TURN OUT.
ARTIST SHARON O’PHEE
ECO-ARTIST Sharon O’Phee is what some would consider a modern-day alchemist.
Her intricate print works, on silk, coasters and cellulose paper, are made not with chemicals, but iron.
Ms O’Phee combines the naturally occurring element with plant matter, using a press and water to create unique patterns on a range of materials.
Her botanical dyeing business InkDelectables has been a hit over the Christmas period, with customers clamouring to get their hands on her one-ofa-kind pieces.
“I first started learning about this process two years ago,” Ms O’Phee said.
“I had gone to a women’s camp in Stanthorpe and there we learnt about eco-dyeing. “I was fascinated by it.” Ms O’Phee said her family had learnt to be patient with her, as she transformed the house into a natural workshop.
“I was experimenting for over a year with the paper, when I decided to move to fabric,” she said.
“I love waking up to the finished product - it’s just like Christmas, you never know how it’s going to turn out.”
She now produces a line of scarves and clothing items carrying the natural prints, and is considering expanding to teach courses in the art.
She has exhibited her pieces in Toowoomba multiple times, including a pop-up at CUA Toowoomba and at the Cobb and Co Lost Trades Fair. Her work can be viewed by searching InkDelectables on Facebook.