Written by As we close out the week and head into the weekend, it’s time for a nice spot of tea.I jumped to 4 colors for this one, choosing Pyrrol Red, Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue. Though I’ve moved on to other brands of teas in reality, I decided to doodlewash a mug of the Lipton tea I remember from childhood. In fact, this was the only brand of tea that I ever encountered until I was an adult, so it sort of became synomous with tea. Later, I would learn that there are apparently thousands of varieties and people who would consider themselves connoisseurs, thinking this mass-produced version was pure rubbish. Absolutely everything in my suburban American childhood was mass-produced. Back then, it wasn’t about being uncommon, it was taking comfort in knowing everyone was using the exact same tried and true things the magazines told you to use.
Today, I’m overwhelmed walking into a Teavana store to discover loose tea and various contraptions with which to brew it. These places are meant to woo you over to a more complex and expensive way to enjoy tea, but I was just left dumdfounded. After trying various varieties, I felt like I’d consumed every one of the dried plants on earth and was no longer able to discern the difference. After this particular shopping trip, Philippe and I left with a tiny portion of tea and a half price carafe that was far too simple to ever sell very well in a store like that. We still use it and love it, but bastardize it daily by dropping a couple lovely mass-produced tea bags in, rather than scraping pricey loose bits into a tea ball. Suffice to say, we are not connoisseurs when it comes to tea. But we still enjoy a cup every evening before bed.
There’s only two more days left for World Watercolor Month and only one if you’re in Australia and other places. It’s been such an incredible month, that it’s sad to see it end, but it’s not really ending as we’ll all be continuing to paint and make lovely things in the months ahead. I hope everyone who has participated in this historic month’s challenge has had a lot of fun. Even though I was already painting daily, to do it with thousands of friends around the world is a new thrill entirely! Thanks so much for everyone who’s played along this month and I hope you’ll keep those brushes wet as we head into August! I’ll be announcing a new theme this weekend for anyone who wants to play along. I hope you will. Art is always way more fun with friends.
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About the Doodlewash
M. Graham Watercolors: Pyrrol Red, Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna, and Ultramarine Blue. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal.
Nice cuppa! Agreed art is way more fun with friends and company. 🙂
Thanks so much, Susan!! 😃💕
I love a good tea Charlie! and, your painting is completely enchanting – I absolutely love it!!! Brilliantly done. really.
think it might be my new fav 🙂 Cheers!
Awww thanks so much, Debi!! 😃💕Thrilled you loved this one!
What a great choice with the Pyrrol red – never used it. Wow! And I am interested in and have tried many different teas. There’s one popping up on my Facebook newsfeed made from mushrooms that sounds interesting. Cheers to you!
Thanks!! 😃💕Hmmmm….mushrooms. Wonder what that tastes like?! Yeah, this is an M Graham red and i really like it! Cheers to you as well!
Ha, is it bad that I mix David’s Tea with a grocery store decaf to extend it, whether iced or hot? Love my tea, and your Doodlewash, Charlie. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for August, my friend 😘
Thanks so much, Carol! 😃💕It’s never bad if you love it! I’m never bothered by caffeine though so I skip decaf. Hehe
While I prefer Twinnings to Lipton (and I do loose leaf also, but I’m not a true connoisseur by any means), I LOVE your painting so much, I’d even drink Lipton tea! LOL! <3 I'm trying to muster the energy and time to do one watercolor painting before the month is over but I'm afraid that between my painful arm and preparing for out of town visitors, I won't be able to. But seriously, this is an AMAZING painting! I can almost smell the tea as I look at the picture!
Lol…yay! That’s a true compliment then! Thanks so much, Teresa! 😃💕
Lovely! I’ll have a cuppa!
Awww thanks so much, KB! 😃💕
Oh charlie – I love your story – but I can’t tell you how much I love this little doodle wash mug of tea. I stretched it as big as i could to enjoy every little detail that you added to make it so perfect. How I adore and envy your style! The way you draw and then the way you blend the colors that bring your drawings to life! I wish you would do a live video of you drawing and painting! Are there words on the bottom of the glass mug? I keep trying to read backwards and forward and feel like there is a hidden message 🙂
Thanks Jodi!! 😃💕I’m so glad you liked this! And yeah…the words were Made in USA! Lol But I didn’t really feel like rendering them so I faked them in. I like the idea of a hidden message even better! And a video will come one day I hope!
wow…..what an amazing fresh and lively doodle, love it! Oh have you tried Lapsang Souchong tea yet? oh my, it is my ultimate favorite, it is a smoky tea from China. Yes, the only way to really enjoy tea is bulk! the poorer quality are processed into the tea bags….I am a tea snob and I hate the tea bag variety….well, I lie, there are some nice ones out there in health food stores. Anyway, it was a wonderful journey, I didn’t participate like you all did but I did a little. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much, Margaret! 😃💕It’s a wonderful compliment then, from a tea snob! lol I’m just a wine snob…not as picky on tea. And you joined a lot this month! So glad you did! Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend!
I found a local person who makes an herbal chocolate tea that would definitely make you a tea lover, Charlie! ❤️ It is divine! Your Doodlewash is fantastic once again, my friend! 🌟😊🌟
Yum!! That sounds super awesome!! I want to try that!! 😃😃And Awww thanks, Jill! 😃💕 Glad you liked this!!
Tea-riffic? 😉 This is becoming quite absurd, Charlie! I am absolutely captivated. I don’t know what else to say, it just looks so darn real! The sheltered life I live, I don’t believe I’ve ever sampled Lipton tea. The brand name itself makes me think of iced tea, which again I’ve never tried (have you?)
You definitely need to get out more, Jacob!
Haha! Not a fan of puns, then…? 😉
Course I am!!!!! Bring ’em on!!!!!
Oh, I’m glad to hear they are your cup of tea. Don’t need to ask me twice! 😉
😊😝😋
Thanks, Jacob! 😃Of course! I grew up on iced tea! You’ve never had it?! Way too sheltered a life. You can make some and sip on it while you’re watching Star Wars. 😉
Love the way you captured the tea bag through the glass. Beautiful rendering.
(It’s good you didn’t paint loose tea because then it would have looked like dirt in the cup)
Thanks, Judy! 😃💕glad you liked it! And haha! Yeah…dirt or something worse! Lol
Charlie,
I have enjoyed seeing all of your paintings and reading your stories. World Watercolor Month has inspired me to paint something every day since returning from vacationing in Colorado earlier in the month. I’m beginning to see some improvement and continuity from day to day. Can we keep this going? I really look forward to seeing anew painting each day. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks so much, Lois!! 😃💕And yay! I’m thrilled to hear you’re inspired to paint daily! That’s so cool! And yes we can keep going!! It would be crazy to stop now! The Facebook Group will become World Watercolor Group and we can all just keep right on painting together! 🎨😉
Charlie, who but you could have painted an ordinary cup of tea and made it look imperial? You’ve even captured the carved letters on the bottom of the cup, the graceful curve of the handle, and the look of the wet, steeping bag. My favorite detail is the rich amber color of the brewed tea, accepted perfectly by the delicate lines of ultramarine blue.
Funny, I just went to Teavana to get a few ounces of green tea for my son and his wife. They live too far away for me to visit often so I enjoy indulging in sending them tea and other delectables.
Me – I’m happy with Lipton – great over a stack of ice, too, with honey. 😀
Awww thanks, Sharon!! 😃💕Super happy you liked the color. I struggled with that at first! And sounds like a wonderful gift to send! I do like the fancy stuff! But don’t really mind the simple kind. Hehe
Excellent piece of work Charlie 👍🏼 it’s real fun month painting with fellow artists friends ! Thanks so much!
Thanks, Snehal! 😃💕 So happy you enjoyed the month!!
The month is nearly over, and I can’t believe I DID IT! Painted something every day and only cheated a couple of times (by posting something started previously). It’s been loads of fun, thanks to you, my friend! It brightened up a lousy summer, and has given me loads of new ideas, so thanks! Amazing cup of tea, btw. Xxx
Thanks!! And awesome!!! Yay! So happy you did it, Marina!! 😃💕Hope you’ll keep on painting in August!!
I good mug of tea, you can’t beat it…..unless it is made wrong! There is nothing wrong with your glorious doodlewash, I love it, so I am just running to the kettle to brew a mug, and join you……rich tea biscuit anyone? 😉
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕And yes please!! I think I will have that biscuit!! Yum!!
I love to see your traditional Lipton tea bag. A staple in the American cupboard. Your glass work today is so awesome. Like Jodi, I was zooming in to see how you mastered your beautiul art. Have a terrific Saturday, Charlie.
Awww thanks Sharon!! 😃💕It’s been so fun to practice glass this month. I’m thrilled you liked this. I feel like I kind of figured it out now. Hope you had a terrific, Saturday!!
That is a beautiful cup of tea! I hear you on teavana, overwhelming. I try different teas and always end up with green tea with pomegranate.
It has been a fabulous month! Thank you so much for the great job you did on this project! It was awesome and so inspiring to see what other people paint. Thank you!💞
Thanks so much, Teri!! 😃💕I really appreciate hearing that! Glad you enjoyed it!
Boy I am going to predict that one day you will illustrate something foodish. Honestly, you are so good at this, Charlie! Menus, restaurant logos, books, cookbooks, books about painting food and glass and beverages?! I don’t know but you don’t let the grass grow under your feet, this I know for sure! Beautiful!
👌🏻
Thanks! 😃
This is beautiful, the color on the tea is perfect! Your paintings of glass objects have been really inspiring lately. Glass has always been tricky for me, but you render it beautifully!
Awww thanks, Annie!! 😃💕I was determined to try more glass this month. So glad you’re liking the results!
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My dad used to go through gallons of that supposedly-horrible Lipton *instant*. Not even patient enough to let the mass-produced bags steep, apparently. 😀
Anyway, that Lipton smell is like an ancestral connection, so I end up buying a jar every now and again, despite “better” options being available. Snobbery, pfft. 😀
Love this!
Aww that’s such a great story! 😃💕 Yeah, I’m the same… even though I know something is better, I’ll still often grab for the one with the best memories!
Memories always taste the best. 🙂