Today, expressing himself creatively is exactly what Ed Dodds does through his work with tie dye. But he does also admit that “I guess most people would call me an old hippie,” he said. “I do make tie dye and enjoy the music of the Grateful Dead.”

This Lancaster County native, a proud father of four and grandfather of 10, has always enjoyed sharing his creative side. He began playing guitar at a young age and has since mastered several musical instruments.

For more than three decades he has also worked as a chef, where he enjoys doing elaborate plate and buffet presentations.

Although both of those passions are definitely considered art forms, Dodds said, “I have always appreciated art but was never able to draw or paint very well.”

So he found an art form that suited him and his unique skill set very well, and one that didn’t involving painting or drawing. He became a tie dye artist.

Dodds believes he’s been tie dyeing for about 35 years, having gotten involved with it with his first wife. He recalls hosting tie dye parties in those early days, even before his children were born.

“I found a photo of my son wearing a nice dye as an infant,” he said. “He is now 31, so it’s been a while.”

Known for his unusual and intricate design work, Dodds explained some of the differences between the simple tie dye process of using paint on fabric, which we’re all a bit familiar with, and what he likes to do.

“Most of the cheaper dyes are surface dyes,” he said. “They sit on top of the fabric and eventually wash out. I use fiber-reactive dye that requires natural fabric. Fiber-reactive dyes bond with the natural cellulose molecules and form a permanent bond.”

Dodds also likes to use something called an ice dye process that gives his work a unique look. Most people think of the process of applying dye in terms of squirting liquid on a shirt, but ice dyeing is different.

“Think of a color like purple,” he said. “The dye powder may be made up of four to five colors. I use the dye powder and cover the shirt in ice — sometimes with the powder under the ice, sometimes on top of the ice, sometimes both. With ice, you will see those colors separate.”

One of the hardest parts with an ice-dyed project is waiting to see how it turns out. A project “needs to sit for at least 24 hours after the ice melts,” Dodds said.

“When it is ready, you need to rinse, rinse, and rinse. I wash it once in cold and twice in hot water to make sure all the dye is removed. I wouldn’t want someone to have a shirt bleed into their other laundry.”

Shirts aren’t the only items that have been touched by the creativity of Ed Dodds.

“I’ve dyed just about anything that will take dye,” he said. “Tapestries are fun. Socks are a popular item. Also yoga pants, onesies, shoes, tote bags, and scrunchies. I like thrifting for dresses and men’s dress shirts. My first wife is a talented seamstress, and she would take pieces of dyed fabric and make pillow covers or purses.”

Dodds has taught classes in tie dye, sharing his love of the art with others.

“I’ve done classes for a couple that wanted to do a family picture of everyone in tie dye,” he said. “My daughter and I once taught a group of about 200 people over six hours. That was interesting.”

How does he come up with design ideas for all those various items?

“There is a ton of inspiration out there,” Dodds said. “I usually start the folding process with an idea in my head of what the shirt will look like. The shirt doesn’t always cooperate, which is part of the beauty of tie dye.”

He also likes to build on a technique he has used before, trying variations of it or combining it with another.

“Geode-looking dyes are great,” Dodds said. “I also like gravity dyes. This is where the shirt actually hangs off the side of a table or something else, and the dye slowly runs down.”

Some of his designs are more popular than others, and so when he is going to an art show, for example, “I make the design of a shirt that has sold well in the past and that I know people will buy. Sometimes the balance of art and business don’t always line up,” he said.

Dodds enjoys doing local art shows and hopes to do about 35 of them this year alone.

“I found that more and more people wanted to buy my dyes,” he said. “I realized if I could get my work and myself in front of more people, this could grow. I found that not only my work, but my enthusiasm in what I do and discussing it led to even more sales.”

He also has done some custom work but said that can be tricky. 

“People can have a vision in their head, and often tie dye doesn’t work that way … and I don’t like to work that way,” Dodds said. “I tell people, ‘I’ll get you in the neighborhood.’ It’s like live music. Create something right in front of me that will never be exactly the same. There’s the beauty, the art, the creativity.”

 Having a creative outlet, no matter what form it takes, is important for all of us.

“In August of 2020 my second wife passed away,” Dodds said. “I was in a really dark place and needed help.”

At the treatment center where he sought that help, Dodds recalled they provided guitars and a keyboard, which helped him rediscover his longtime love of music. But he also discovered something else.

“One day they did tie dye, and I rediscovered the passion I had for creating art. It was a huge part of my recovery and still is to this day. Folding and dyeing becomes a meditation.

“Having great passion in creating for yourself is amazing, and when you share it — bonus. When you can make money doing it — wow! I have a strong belief that everyone needs some creativity in their life, whatever form that takes.”