Natural Color to Create Printmaking Art for The Elderly

Abstract

          The printmaking has been practiced since ancient times until the present day.
It involves the use of chemicals as essential components in the creative process before achieving the final printed image. Whether it is turpentine-based, thinner, ink, or the colors used in the printing process, these factors can affect the user's health. Nowadays, natural colors have become an increasingly interesting alternative. The objective of this research is to develop natural color formulas for printmaking, specifically designed for elderly individuals, using a simple process and easily accessible local materials without the use of chemicals. This allows elderly individuals to create the aforementioned colors on their own. The developed natural colors are then used in printmaking activities, and the formulas are refined to achieve the most efficient natural colors. The natural colors were pretested with the elderly with 60-79 years of age who are physically healthy and can help themselves, without sex separation, in Bangkok and its outskirts. Persons who were interested in and willing to participate in the activities were recruited and 20 participants were selected
           The research findings revealed that inventing and experimenting with natural colorants derived from a combination of plant-based color powder, mordant, tapioca starch, and water in appropriate proportions such as 5 grams of plant-based color powder, 250 milliliters of mordant, 30 grams of tapioca starch, and 250 milliliters of water with
a simple preparation of natural colors had the potential for further development to be used in activities for the elderly, contributing to ongoing benefits for the elderly community and society as a whole.