Making paint from plants is simply a lot of fun. It’s fast, clean up is super easy, it’s endlessly surprising (making it a little addictive), and it’s beautiful.
I use a microwave. A lot. If you don’t have or believe in microwaves, you can still do this craft, you’ll just have to make larger amounts, do it in a small saucepan on the stovetop. The directions here, though, are for using the microwave.
Although I used camellia blossoms here, this same process can be repeated for any number of different plants. In addition to petals, you can also use leaves, roots, berries, and bark. It’s fun to keep a color chart log. This can be as simple as labeled dabs of paint on a piece of water color paper but a store-bought journal is very satisfying. Have fun!!
Equipment and Ingredients:
3 large camellia petals
1/4 cup water (distilled)
lemon or lime juice
baking soda
small strainer
1 flat bottom cereal bowl
3 ramekins
watercolor paper and brush
Instructions:
- Pick the blossoms – they don’t even have to be fresh, you can use ones that have fallen on the ground.
2. Chop them up using a knife and cutting board or scissors or just tearing them. You should have about a 1/3 cup, lightly packed.
3. Add 1/4 cup distilled water. Put in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Take it out, stir and put back in about 30 seconds more. You want the petals to begin to lose color and turn pale, as above.
4. Use a mesh strainer and strain out all the plant material until you have beautiful red liquid left. Put about 1/2 tablespoon of liquid in each of 3 ramekins. Pour the rest into a small container, label and put it in the refrigerator to use later. This small amount is just a test run to see if you like the colors.
5. Put all 3 ramekins in the microwave on high. Cook in 30 second intervals until most of the liquid has evaporated. Leave one bowl neutral. Put 2 drops of lemon (or lime) juice in one and a small sprinkling (about 1/10 a quarter teaspoon) in one. Add a little more liquid if you need to.
6. Stir and paint!!! BE SURE to wash your brush out thoroughly before dipping it into a different paint.
7. You can use the rest of the neutral camellia liquid to make more paint, just pour it in a ramekin and heat until it is thick enough to paint with.