Pink Roses, Pink Tea, Pink Saturday and a P.S.


Happy Pink Saturday, originally uploaded by bluebirdsandteapots.



Today is Pink Saturday, and Bev from How Sweet The Sound is hosting this wonderful event. There are many pink posts to explore, so won't you join Bev in celebrating another Pink Saturday?

My creationI bought a bouquet of lovely pink roses to paint for Pink Saturday. I wanted to show you how to combine lovely handmade paper as the vase and use pink watercolor washes to create roses.

roses closeup

On the way for a drive to the art store to pick up my favorite watercolor paper, I thought about aging the edges of a rose. I was thinking about how so many people use tea to stain fabric and even paper. I thought "Why not paint with tea?"

painting outside with dunkin

So, I stopped by a Dunkin Donut and bought a cup of tea and went directly to the park to capture the idea before I lost the inspiration. One of the unwritten rules to capturing magic is that once the Creative Muse has come to inspire you, you must capture the idea immediately before the inspiration vanishes into Neverland.

tea, book and watercolor box

dunkin outsidePainting outside is lovely on a nice day. The Dunkin Donut tea was just the right shade of sepia. Combining watercolor paint and the tea worked very nicely. The tea was perfect, and I thought I might use my sister’s Rose tea when I got home for a pink tint.


A Study in Roses

I called my sister, Susan and she suggested that I experiment with real tea, black ones etc.

roses paintbrush first rose tea wash

When I got home I set up a bit of atmosphere to recapture the inspiration.

Susan's Christmas Tea

I took my sister's Christmas Morning Blend from the shelf and scooped a generous helping into a glass, then I poured hot water from the tea kettle and let it seep for a bit.

rose tea seeping

Then I drained the tea leaves to prepare the tea wash. It was a perfect pink wash, I thought I would use a black tea later for the aged edges. I lit a rose blossom candle, set the roses in a vase on the table, and began the rose tea process.

My creation

I proceeded to paint with the tea, and add more washes to the rose I had painted earlier with the Dunkin Donut Tea.

Painting Roses

Painting with tea washes was more fun and much easier to manage than the watercolor washes.

My creation

aged leaves to roseAs I continued to add layers of the wash, the roses began to come to life.

roses and rose tea wash

My creationMy experiment with the Creative Muse had worked. So, with candle lit, a bit of soft music and roses galore, I painted into the wee hours of the morning.

rose blossom candle

painted rosesI am using my painted sketches for reference and have started work on a larger painting using my favorite watercolor paper. It will be ready for you to see next week on Pink Saturday. I will demonstrate how to use hand-made papers with watercolor painting, when creating a mixed-media composition. Oh, I wonder if tea is considered part of mixed-media too?

roses, candle and kitchen table

paintbrush rosesI hope that you have a lovely Pink Saturday, and that you visit the many lovely posts that you will find links to on Bev's How Sweet The Sound.



I have poured myself a cup of tea to drink this time, and I am off on an adventure in Pink Saturday Land. The music for this post is Finding Neverland. This cutie cup of coffee and pastry was designed by my sister, Susan...she cracks me up!



On Sunday Brenda from The Brenda Blog is hosting an event called Where Bloggers Create. Make sure you stop by Brenda's on Sunday, August 24th for the links to a fun adventure in Blogland.

Here are some of the participants, and if you would like to join in on the fun, just go to Brenda's Blog and send her an e-mail.



Perennial Garden Lover; Crafty Passions; Soliloquy; Alamo North; The Stone Rabbit; The Vintage Nest; Whimsies And Words; Gardening For Beginners; The Greenhouse Diaries; Karla's Cottage; Bird Nest Cottage; Garden Joy 4 Me; Diane's Musings; Georgia Peachez; Pressing On; Linda's Blue Gate; Diary Of A Middle-Aged Gardener; Bailiwick Designs; A Scrapbook Of Inspiration; Rue's Peanut Butter And Jelly Life.

P.S. I just discovered this incredible artist who really inspires me and cracks me up at the same time. She is from one of my favorite cities, Toronto. She also has a fabulous blog called Time With Tascha. Here is her Etsy Shop. I just love this girl!!!





My creation
Ewa said...

Dear Karen,
I loved your Roses Galore Post. So lovely painted...
Greetings,
Ewa

Sometimes It's Good said...

That was very interesting. I'll have to try tea for painting. You have fabulous ideas! And beautiful paintings!

Unknown said...

Hello Karen, so much of pinkie goodies here..and that painting is just wonderful. You have a blessed weekend :D

MeMeMe said...

Hi Karen, i love your post, your pink, and thank you for sharing your tea painting... i can't wait to see it on Saturday. I love your placemats too.

Beverly said...

Karen, this was just fascinating. And, the roses you painted are gorgeous. I can't wait to see more.

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday. You make it special for each of us.

Kathleen Grace said...

Oh Karen, that is so amazing, I would have never thought of using tea but of course if you can dye with it you should be able to use it for color washes! I never fail to be amazed and inspired by your posts, and your work is just pure eye candy:>)

Schotzy said...

I am soooooo inspired! That is absolutely wonderful! AW!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite beverage, I favorite topic! I just wish I could do roses. Mine look scary! Beautiful post!

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Beautiful!!! I just posted a game I thought you might want to play. Please play!!!!

Patricia said...

Absolutely beautiful, all the photos are breath taking. I love your water color with tea, this is my favorite.
Patricia
http://theunfinishedflower.typepad.com/

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Karen, Love this post and your tea wash roses. I love how they turned out. I can so relate to playing when the creative muse bug hits, and it can be anytime of the day or night. LOL!! I have done this sort of wash technique with watered acrylics and ink. it is so free and fun.

Thank you for letting me know about the Where Bloggers Create on Sunday at the Brenda Blog. I will really try to fit that in. You are so thoughtful dear friend. Sounds like fun!
Have a great weekend and I so enjoyed your pinkness today a little early!
Smiles, Celestina
la rea rose

Donna Layton said...

Wow. Your blog is amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. It should be in Artful Blogging magazine (if it hasn't already). So inspiring:)

tea time and roses said...

Hello Karen!

How beautiful! A most lovely pink post indeed! Your photos are simply amazing! You surely put the P on pretty with this one! :o) Have a lovely weekend!

Smiles...

Beverly

Jax said...

what a great post! Lots of inspiration. ;)

Diane at Crafty Passions said...

Love the tea-rose picture. its very pretty I would love to see the finished painting when your done.
Have a good weekend
Diane

Dawn said...

Wow, those roses are beautiful! I love the photo you took and let my see you certainly found your creative muse this day. What a clever idea to paint with the pink. I just love your painting and watching how the flowers came to life. Amazing!

take care,
Dawn

Margie said...

Wow, I knew tea was versatile, but ... what a lovely picture you've created with it! I can't wait to see next weeks post!

That Crazy Ajumma said...

Gorgeous roses!
I recently started painting with watercolors,expermenting.
I don't have any training so it was nothing but globs of colors..lol.I can't even imagine doing roses like you painted.
Happy Pink Saturday!

Marina Capano said...

Hi! Karen! nice post and I love the roses!! you are big artist, so, I like so much like put your patch pictures, I love it!
and nice music!!!

hugs, smiles and kisses

Marina
have a pink saturday

Virginia said...

Love your post. Your roses are absolutely beautiful!
Have a Happy and Bless saturday, Virginia

Lochlanina said...

Happy Pink Saturday.
I've often thought the berry blends teas would make interesting pinkish dyes/paints.

Anonymous said...

I just loved watching your roses come alive. I definitely think tea should be considered a part of mixed media! Again, a wonderful post from you. I so enjoyed the video you included, too. Dana

Anne Fannie said...

Hello Karen, love all your roses. The way you paint with tea, very creative!
Happy Pink Saturday!
love, Ann

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh My Gosh! I love your tea color washed roses! And I wanted to be you sitting in that park and painting! It would be kind of hard to grab a bunch of china, grout and glue and head to the park to mosaic!

Thanks for the intro to Tasha...that was fun!
xo
Penny

Anonymous said...

Amazing as always and I just love the fact that you went to the park to paint. Happy Pink Saturday. See you tomorrow for "Where Bloggers Create" tour. Mine won't be posted until late tomorrow afternoon. ~

Eleanor said...

What a delightful blog posting and those roses, painted and real, are gorgeous. My roomate at university (100 years ago!) went on a year's hike through Europe in the 70s and kept a sketchbook. She painted the most beautiful pictures in red wine! Have a lovely Sunday and thank for all the visits and Eleanor

Life on the Edge said...

That turned out just beautiful! I would not have thought of painting with tea. Can't wait to see them framed! I always look forward to seeing what you will create for each of your Pink Saturday posts!

Kady

Tara said...

KAren

I so enjoyed your process of discovery. The roses came out incredibly lifelike!

:0)
Tara

Donna @ Party Wishes said...

I love the idea of painting with tea! Just gorgeous!

said...

The tea painting is exquisite.

Missy Wertz said...

Your painting turned out really pretty! Thanks for sharing!

Joyce's Journey said...

You are a very talented woman! I am so impressed with the many things you have shared on your blog. It has been a pleasure to read about the things you create.

Just A Girl said...

Hi Karen, How did you come up with the idea of painting with tea? It produces such beautiful soft colors.
Thank you for sharing.

Betty said...

What a beautiful post! I've always wanted to be able to paint a perfect rose.

Anonymous said...

Genius! And gorgeous! :)

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

You've always such wonderful art to share. How blessed you are to have such a talent. I can't even draw a stick person the right way (LOL). I can't wait to see next week's contribution.

Unknown said...

I have seen many pictures of wedding but never got chance to see such a gorgeous and fabulous pictures.
kitchen units

breastaugmentation said...

This is so amazing, I never thought of using tea, but of course if you can dye it, you should be able to use it to wash the colors! I never was surprised and encouraged by your article.
microdermabrasion

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