How to Paint Using Tea

Did you know you can paint using tea? It’s just one of the many things you can do with tea and something anyone can do. Tea is a natural pigment that can be used to stain paper and other material to create different types of effects.
You can create something beautiful using light and dark shading and different colors from the teas. Here's how to paint using tea.

How to Make Paint from Tea

Making paint from tea is much easier than one would think. Just follow the instructions below and be ready to get artsy.
You'll Need:

• 4 tablespoons loose leaf tea
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 or more paint brushes
• Watercolor paper

Directions:
Boil 1/4 cup of water.
Put the tea leaves in a bowl and add the boiling water to it. More water will give a lighter color and less water will give a darker color.
Steep for five minutes or until you get the strength of color you desire.
To create a thicker paste for painting, add a little flour to the water.

How to Get Different Colors

You can make and mix different types of tea to get various colors. Here are some tips when making colors.
Black Tea: The dark shades of black tea make for great colors from black, gray, brown, and light brown. Add more or less water to get various shades.
Hibiscus Tea: Hibiscus makes successful pink and red pigments for painting. If you add more water you can get pink shades, and less water will get you a bright red.
Green Tea: Get some lovely shades of green from green tea blends. They will give you yellow tones, as well, depending on the amount of water you add.
Butterfly Pea Flowers: Get yourself some beautiful shades of purples and blues from pea flowers. The rich colors steeped in a little water will turn out just lovely.

You can also use other household items to contribute to the pigments. Many people add lemon, milk, sugar, or salt to the tea or directly onto the paper. It adds a little something extra to the art and is fun to play around with.

How to Paint Using Tea

There are some different techniques when it comes to painting with tea. A lot of people start by sketching the drawing in pencil first. Then, continue in the same manner you would when normally painting with watercolor. Practice scrubbing, blotting, lifting, and painting with a controlled hand on a separate paper at first until you get the desired result.

Some fun techniques for tea painting include:

• Use Q-Tips to apply the tea to paper.
• Sponge the tea to the paper.
• Use textured paper towels to add a unique effect.
• Use a rag for another type of texture.

Tips for painting with tea

• Regularly wash your brushes in fresh water.
• Regularly dry your brushes.
• It is easier to use watercolor paper, but other types such as construction, inkjet, or card stock can also be used.

How to paint using tea is fun and easy to do. There is no telling what you will produce with it or the memories you will make.