Nature, Art and a Little Bit of Chemistry: Martha Laing Finds Beauty in Every Leaf For Martha Laing, every leaf tells a story. Whether it comes from an oak, maple or horse chestnut tree, each leaf has its own character, its own chemistry and its own surprise waiting to be revealed. Through the centuries- old art of eco printing, Martha transforms those leaves into one-of-a-kind works of wearable art, creating silk scarves and textiles that capture the beauty of nature in ways no paintbrush ever could. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience that process firsthand when Martha opens her outdoor studio as part of the Elgin County Studio Tour, taking place Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 from 10 am to 5 pm. The free, self-guided event invites the public to visit 25 local artists in their creative spaces throughout Elgin County, offering a rare opportunity to meet the artists, learn about their techniques and purchase original artwork directly from the creators. For Martha, the tour is about much more than displaying finished pieces. It’s about sharing the fascinating journey that transforms everyday nature into extraordinary works of art. Her creative process combines gardening, natural dyes and a surprising amount of chemistry. “I’ve been more of a textile artist than a wall artist,” she explains. Each scarf begins as white silk before undergoing a lengthy process involving natural dyes, mordants such as alum, copper or iron, and carefully selected leaves and flowers. The fabric
is layered with plant material, tightly bundled and steamed for more than an hour. During that process, the tannins within the leaves react with the mordants, creating intricate botanical prints that can never be duplicated exactly. “It’s a process,” Martha says with a smile. In fact, creating a single scarf involves hours of preparation, dyeing, steaming and finishing. Every variable, from the species of leaf to the acidity of the dye bath, can influence the final result. “It’s a little bit of a surprise every time,” she says. That unpredictability is one of the things she loves most about eco-printing.
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Page 8 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • September 2026
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