Ink screen print of the mushroom Phaeolus schweinitzii
Yes, it is true that colors can be extracted from mushrooms.
Most fungi produce pigments, since pigments have properties to protect the fungus from external agents, whether environmental or biotic (other fungi, bacteria, etc.); however, there are species that have a greater quantity of pigments and that can be extracted with homemade methods.
Natural fungal dyes are fascinating, as woodland mushrooms such as Dermocybe sanguinea and lichens such as Usnea can be used to dye wool fibres in bright red or purple shades respectively.
In the image we can see pigments from another type of fungus: Hypoxylon. The Hypoxylon genus is intriguing, its shapes look like scabs or balls on tree branches and they are generally black, but when submerged in a solution of distilled water with 5% or 10% KOH (potassium hydroxide), we can see how they release yellow, orange, red and even olive green pigments.
To make these fabric samples I extracted the pigments and applied them to the fabric with a screen printing mesh to form different patterns.
If you want to learn how to dye with mushrooms you can follow my dear friend Alissa Allen's Instagram profile @mycopigments , she is the magical fairy of mushroom dyeing, and if you like rare mushrooms like Hypoxylon more, you can write to me in the Contact section or on Instagram at @Bioximena , and I'll tell you the gossip.
I will be sharing a mix of trips, explorations and experiences on fungal pigments, this is a brief intro but there will be more short texts to learn about this fascinating topic and you will be able to see all my photos and videos, as well as the results of my research n_n
Warm hug with Alissa in the forests of Oaxaca, we traveled to look for mushrooms and she together with Kim Williams-Hunter @thisiskimqi collected lichens to dye wool, while I finished the scrambled egg with lobster mushroom (it sounds horrible I know, but believe me, lobster mushroom is delicious) that Zach Hunter, the beloved @chefmushroomhead @thefungivore Kim's better half, had prepared for breakfast.
