Watercolor Paint Consistency - Tea to Butter

If you find watercolor difficult to paint with, the tips in this video will be eye opening!
Paint consistency (or the ratio of water vs. pigment) is a key skill to learn in order to improve your watercolor paintings, but can be difficult to learn. Years ago when I first learned the "Tea to Butter" method as an analogy of paint consistency, it was an "aha" moment. It took me a year to practice it enough to use it, but it was a game changer for me. So, I now teach this in all my watercolor workshops.
I hope you enjoy this video and that it helps you with learning how to paint in watercolor, a challenging but fun medium!!
Happy Painting!
For more online demos and lessons, visit www.openstudioonline.com/
You can also see a list of my upcoming in-person watercolor workshops on my webstie: briennembrown.com/

[@mashteeh8691]

This was a brilliant demonstration and explanation! Thank you Brienne! I wish you'd upload videos on here again, I am currently binging them and already dread the day that I run out!😅 You're a wonderful teacher, and I hope to one day achieve your level of skill. Thank you for passing on your knowledge 🙏

[@cylenadee]

You can be my teacher anytime!! What a great video!! And you’re easy to follow and listen to as you move along!! None of that, “yadda, yadda, yadda!! I turn off most videos just because of that!!! Thank you!!

[@maximme]

hit me like a thunderbolt! its the water that is the medium of transport for the pigment. Thank you Brienne. I love you.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad this was helpful Michael! :) You are so welcome. I wish you the best...

[@letha57]

I have learned more from you in 20 minutes than anyone else in months and months of trying. Nobody ever explained the wet dry contrast and paint consistency so well.

[@pamgaylord2130]

best explanation and demonstration I've found on line - thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

Awe....thank you very much Pam. I really appreciate that. I am glad I could help!

[@gingerbuchanan2795]

I've watched 100's of watercolor tutorials and have never seen anyone teach this as thoroughly as you have. Thank you so very much! I'm glad I've found you!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much Ginger... :) I really appreciate this. I am so glad this was helpful. Happy Painting!

[@ValandRobWeaver-gm6xc]

I'm just learning to paint with watercolours and this will help me very much. Thank you Val Weaver

[@donbartram7081]

I think I have found my aha moment. Thank you.

[@briennembrown5938]

Awesome!!! You are most welcome.

[@jcsallen3]

Thank you for such a concise explanation!!! You are a GREAT teacher!!!

[@deborahgiuffre5494]

The absolute best demonstration of the tea - coffee!

[@janicefortney5162]

Great tutorial Brienne! I don’t think I’ve ever had the water-to-pigment theory explained and demonstrated so concisely and well. Thank you so much for sharing this valuable information. BTW, I love your painting style!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome Janice... :) I am so glad this was helpful. Happy PAinting!

[@kelbraf9040]

Wonderful!!! Absolutely love this. You explained this perfectly and I’ve learned so much. Thank you 😊

[@aliciamolloy5948]

Thank you so much Brienne for this great video .

[@barryteghtmeyer5466]

This is fantastic! As a teaching watercolor artist, this is really key! I talk about it in the beginning session of all of my online classes. Thank you!

[@connielester1641]

This was fantastic! I know this info will make a big difference for me. Thank you❣️

[@jitendragholap4147]

Thank you so much. This is one of the best fundamental demonstration about Watercolors. Nicely explained in easy to understand manner...👍👍

[@hennybrunner8939]

Hi Brienne. Thank you. Thanks God this old post crossing my page. This is exactly what I am looking for, to know how to control the water in the brush.

[@robertweinblatt2018]

Your instruction and info is beyond helpful, itsEVERYTHING IN A NUTSHELL🥇🥰❤️‍🔥🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Nadasna]

Thank you! Such excellent information and so helpful!

[@jackierohm]

This is amazingly helpful for me being a beginner watercolorist. Thank you so much!

[@RejuvenateYourHealth]

Newbie watercolorist and self taught. SO afraid to "waste" paint, so I paint with tea mostly or coffee. This so perfectly demonstrates to me how much paint and paper I actually waste with my poor results. None of my other online instructors have taken the time to explain this simple technique. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this! God bless♥️

[@briennembrown5938]

So glad this was helpful Karen and I wish you the best with playing with the watercolors. :) When I first learned this analogy, it was helpful for me as well... Have fun!!! Happy Painting! BB

[@ruthinehennessy8705]

Very clearly explained and demonstrated. Thank you so much.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are so welcome.

[@rockhoundguy]

My instructor for a watercolor class in our town, artist Yvonne Mucci, suggested that we review your video to both practice and learn from. Thanks for sharing, Brienne.

[@briennembrown5938]

Awesome...thank you . I am so glad this was helpful. Keep it up and Happy Painting! :)

[@LilDivette]

Amazing tutorial! The best explanation describing water control that finally helped the lightbulb go off-thank you!!! 🎨 💡 👍

[@briennembrown5938]

Yay! I am so glad this was helpful. When I first heard it, a light bulb went off for me as well. :) Happy Painting! BB

[@DenaTollefson]

Hi Brienne! Your "tea to butter" water to pigment analogy is really excellent and a wonderful way to think about how to use watercolor, and your dry, damp and shiny wet paper demonstration with the same tea to butter scenarios is very well explained. Fantastic tutorial, Brienne!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Dena... I am so glad this was a helpful tutorial. :) Happy Painting!

[@DenaTollefson]

@@briennembrown5938 Thank you Brienne! Have a super rest of your week

[@allthumbs3792]

Wow! That was pure gold! You’re a wonderful painter and teacher.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks so much... I thought the same when I first learned it. I am happy to help. :)

[@joellamolson4095]

I'm just starting out with watercolour painting and learning the basics when you haven't got money for lessons is kind of frustrating. So to happen upon such a beautifully taught lesson is a godsend. Thank you so very much. Now I know what people are talking about in videos when they say that the consistency of paint is tea, or milk, or cream, and so forth. You are a very good instructor, clear and concise information, beautifully demonstrated. To teach with such clarity makes learning a joy,

[@bonnielass2087]

This was absolutely wonderful. I´ve been looking for something like this for ever. Exactly what a beginner needs, especially the explanation of using paint from a tube versus pan, and the shape of the brush. And seeing how it moves on the palette! Fantastic.

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful! You are very welcome. Have fun playing with the paint!! Happy Painting! Best, BB

[@stalean0301]

Excellent analogy! I just had to come back and say this was so educational and informative. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks so much😊

[@jmoss55ish]

Thank you! Thank you! Merry Christmas and you be blessed!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome!

[@brendacollinsdeeks7268]

Thank you for such a succinct yet clear explanation about the proportions of water to pigment. I finally get it! 👌🏻

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome... I am so glad this was helpful. :)

[@JimSerrett]

My head just exploded. 🤯💥🤯 Best explanation of this I’ve seen, have struggled with paint consistency, but your pigment/water ratio demo is so clear. Thank you. 🙏🏆

[@briennembrown5938]

Hahahahaha.... I am so glad this explanation of paint consistency helped you. My mind totally exploded when I first heard it and I glad that my explanation was clear and helpful. Happy Painting!!!

[@carloantoniomartinelli5418]

A very good demonstration, VERY good, excellent in fact. It is the BEST of its kind thus far in my experience. So wonderfully clear that it turns, what could be a baffling subject, into something 'obvious'. Thank you very much Brienne, for sharing your knowledge.

[@briennembrown5938]

You're very welcome! I am so glad this was helpful and understandable. :) Happy Painting! BB

[@carolatchley3797]

Brienne, I've been looking for instruction about paint consistency, but it's more difficult to find than I expected. This is exactly what I was looking for, and I'm so glad it was in my suggested videos list! Glad to find you.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Carol. I am so glad this video was helpful and I am glad you found it. Best of luck! Happy Painting. :)

[@ak2031]

FANTASTIC !!!! I love your teaching style!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much!! :)

[@2013democracy]

I have been painting for years and this is the first time l have heard this and it makes to much sense and will improve my work no end l am sure. Thank you.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad this was helpful Mike. Happy Painting and you are welcome! :)

[@gabrielamorovan577]

I love your video. I started to learn watercolors about a year ago and I can't wait to practice everything you showed.

[@briennembrown5938]

Yay! I am happy this was helpful Gabriela...Keep it up! Happy Painting!

[@ebujvt65]

Thank you, will watch again I'm going to make the illustration and add your explanations. Lived to see difference how water moved on pallet for each stage. My tea has been too light ,wet. Big revelation. Am excited to practice

[@iangibbon5771]

I learnt heaps. So informative. Thankyou .

[@dbald8]

Thank you so much for such an excellent tutorial on paint to water ratios. I think I really understand the concept now.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome....I am so glad this was helpful. I am happy this concept helps. :)

[@robertweinblatt2018]

You are 110% correct about playing before painting! If you don’t know your limitations you’re going to get stuck as opposed to having a working arsenal at your touch and then use that to paint! You taught me so much and I’m so very grateful for you🥇

[@cheralsquyresArt]

I’ve been doing a lot of that

[@sofiagish]

Excellent explanation and demonstration, very clear and detailed!! Thank you so much for taking the time for this really very helpful tutorial!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much and you are welcome. I am glad this was helpful. Happy Painting...

[@ezequielruiz2488]

Hi. It is the first time that somebody has explained this as clear as you did. Thank you very much. I am a begginer and I appreciate you to explaine this.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad I can help... :) Happy Painting!

[@CreativityWithStamps]

I am starting to watercolor and doing research on youtube for tutorials...just found your video this morning...I think I have found a jewel!!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you... I am glad you found me. :) Best of luck starting out with watercolor. It is addicting. Keep painting and enjoy the journey. Happy Painting! BB

[@jessica.art.passion]

Wow the best tutorial ever!!! It helps me soooo much thank you 🌷

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate that! You are also welcome. :) Happy Painting! BB

[@kristenlapham2368]

Very very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to show us

[@briennembrown5938]

You are very welcome. :)

[@wonderlife62]

That was great instruction…thank you!

[@vonSchaltz]

Loved this video. So informative when it comes to pigment and water ratio. Wish I had seen this a year ago.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you.. I am so glad this was helpful. Happy Painting 😁

[@tommartino8692]

Great tutorial on paint consistency!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you :)

[@arqanacarb]

best explanation EVER

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Ana!

[@cherigreen4471]

I just found you and I love your paintings, style, and tutorials! I have painted with acrylics for years and they are so different from watercolors. I am trying to learn and this is so helpful!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you very much Cheri... I am glad you found me. ;) Acrylics are fun as well...both mediums have their strengths and weaknesses. Have fun playing with watercolor! I am glad this helps.

[@mariakapatos9545]

Thank you so much for sharing this Bernie great way to paint in watercolor.👍😊

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome. :) I am glad this is helpful.

[@frenchgrama]

Great demo of these concepts, much appreciated, thank you.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad....you're welcome. :)

[@janinewoodhull3611]

Such a fantastic way to explain this! I am not an artist, but trying to learn watercolor. This is incredibly helpful.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am glad this was helpful... This is a good lesson when starting watercolor. Have fun with the journey! :) Happy Painting!

[@janinewoodhull3611]

@@briennembrown5938 I would love to see more "basic or beginner" tutorials from you, since I am just starting out and you seem to be an AMAZING teacher. However, everyone more skilled than I, will love your advanced videos. It's all great!

[@AntonioMazzolaWatercolors]

Wonderful video. Often heard of this but never seen it done. Thank you. 😊🎨❤️

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you very much Antonio... I am so happy this video was helpful. It really is useful to see it...Happy Painting!

[@kimgalea6529]

What a wonderful tutorial! A new way to look at using my paint. I think the cream consistency will be quite a challenge. I can’t wait to see some of your videos. Mind of watercolour sent us here.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much Kim... I am so glad this tutorial was helpful! Cream is a challenge until you get the hang of it. But it is so helpful. Best of luck and Happy Painting! BB

[@hlk01]

Really well explained. Your demonstration helps immensely. Thank you.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks...I am glad it was helpful. You are welcome

[@stephhatchett6546]

I've been "fooling with" watercolors since childhood (now retired), and I'm learning things from your videos for the FIRST time ever! Thanks so much!!

[@briennembrown5938]

That is so great to hear....I am glad I could help Steph. I wish the best with your watercolor painting. Happy Painting! :)

[@davidblandin8139]

Thank you,I really understood that,great job.

[@briennembrown5938]

Great to hear! You are welcome.

[@Sydt17]

I've heard many different explanations of paint consistency but this one is by far the best one! Thank you for explaining it so well. :)

[@briennembrown5938]

So glad this was helpful Sydney and thanks for the compliment. Happy Painting...😊

[@colourglimpse5753]

This is very useful.. Thanks a lot!!

[@evgeniawillis2836]

Perfect explanation, thank you! Will follow and recommend to my friends.

[@briennembrown5938]

Awesome, thank you!

[@michaelannfitzgerald8742]

Your explanation is so helpful. Thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad this helped! You are welcome. :)

[@jtpaar1732]

Excellent video that I find very helpful as a newbie to watercolor painting. I first heard about you on the Color Your Life KZbin videos and I must say, I love your painting style, which stands out from the crowd! Thank you for sharing your skills.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much and you are welcome. I am glad this was helpful for you. It is a great lesson when you are new to watercolor. Keep it up...Happy Painting! Best, BB

[@sallybrowningpearson4739]

Nicely Done!!

[@LadyLeda2]

This is wonderful!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome. :)

[@robincooper9323]

Thank you for this wonderful tutorial! I think I might actually understand what you are teaching. Now to see if I can practice it!

[@briennembrown5938]

I am glad this was helpful Robin. Best of luck with practicing this. Happy Painting! :)

[@MrJimkg]

Thank you!...I now have a different way to think when using this medium.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome James. I am glad this was helpful. :)

[@kirbythompson8032]

Excellent video! Very clear and concise.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much! :)

[@krisiaaaxx]

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH THANK YOU❤️

[@briennembrown5938]

Yay!....you are welcome. :)

[@LevelUpYourLife]

Thank you for the tips, these are valuable skills!!

[@briennembrown5938]

You are so welcome...I am happy this helps. :)

[@cathyquilts2609]

Wow, you are so right. As a beginner (it’s going on 7 years now...) I want to eat ALL the cake NOW, but sooner or later it tastes so much better with a tea or a cold, cold milk. Thank you for the concise instructions, I’m a happy new subscriber ☕️🥛🧁

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you for subscribing and you are welcome! I am glad this was helpful for you...keep up the painting! :)

[@LaLaArtStudio]

Brienne! Wow! it's amazing how something so simple and basic can be so elusive and overlooked! (DUH) hahaha Thank you so much for your kindness & generosity in patiently & clearly explaining this concept! I've just found you but I am an instant fan and New Subbie 🤩. Very nice to meet you 🤗 🎨 ArtOn 🎨

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much!!! When I first learned this I felt the same way. I wish I had learned this when I first started watercolor. It is so helpful and basic. :) I am so happy to share this. It is nice to meet you as well. Happy Painting! :)

[@PHALOMOON]

Very good tutorial! I've been struggling with getting enough pigment down without over working my painting. Now I know why!!

[@briennembrown5938]

So glad this was helpful...you are welcome. Practicing this pigment versus water ratio is so helpful. :)

[@SandyGaskettArt]

Brilliant. Thank you, great tips.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you so much... :)

[@alexandruepuran]

PRECIOUS!!!! Thanks

[@briennembrown5938]

You are very welcome. :) Happy Painting!

[@selftrue670]

Outstanding tutorial--instant subscription.

[@briennembrown5938]

:) Thank you so much!! I am glad this was helpful.

[@jcb0818]

Excellent demo.

[@mediagambar]

Kereeeennnn ...Thank Miss, This article very2 Inspiration for me

[@briennembrown5938]

My pleasure... :)

[@Renilou2]

You work is breathtaking Brianne! I saw this tea to butter explanation in a beginners DVD 12 years ago. I started in 2008. I have never tossed out my hard as a rock paint. It's not dead. Just passed out. All I do is kiss it with an equal amount of pure clean water, a drop or two of glycerin and seal it air tight for about 3 to 6 days depending on the pigment. Then a good stir and its born again. Watercolor is too expensive to just toss it out when its dried hard. I know some Holbein brand paint will literally get crumbly and fall apart on me after dipping into it and having it dry too many times. That's when it's time to toss it. Winser & Newton, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Davinci, M Graham & Sennelier has never turned to dust on me. Just Holbein, but I love my Holbein.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you for your tips. :)

[@gillyslikejillysart7458]

Awesome explanation! Thank you!!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome. :)

[@fernandogutierrez-yk7wl]

Exelente la explicacion ya me pongo a practicar thank you

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. :)

[@AlichinaThePinkLady]

Great tutorial, thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

You're very welcome!

[@tbluemel]

OUTSTANDING VIDEO!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Thom!!

[@tbluemel]

@@briennembrown5938 Brienne, I continue to watch this video and PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND PRACTICE these exercises. I cannot tell you how useful this video has been for me. I will continue to watch it! This video IS a masterpiece of teaching a very tough subject to teach! Thank you!!!

[@ggjj999]

Excellent!!!!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you

[@evgeniawillis2836]

Great information, thank you!

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful!

[@romainberenguier1611]

a big thank ! a very heplful video !

[@briennembrown5938]

You're welcome! Glad it helped!

[@TXDHC]

Excellent! Thanks.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome

[@z.z.1205]

This is one of the most useful tutorials if you start with watercolor. Most tutorial books or videos dont cover it at all, but it is way more important than endless discussion about 'the best paint or brushes'. I used most of the time a mix that would be your tea, at maximum coffee. As you said, from pans is not possible to get enough pigment out. I became aware a while ago when i watched videos from Charles Evans, who is holding his palette on the arm. I then saw how few water he was using most of the times. But unfortunately: seeing and knowing is, isn't already mastering it. I would like to know how you prepare your paints in the pockets before your start painting. My colors are often either to dry or i have a ton on water in it. Thanks alot, i am looking forward for new videos.

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you... I am so glad this was a useful tutorial. I agree. I wish I had learned it when I first started painting in watercolor. It would have been so useful to learn how watercolor works with water and paper. Like you said, more important than types of brushes... This is why I teach this in all my workshops. :) I use tube paints and put out a generous amount of paint in the wells. They can dry out and be reconstituted for a long time. I just find that if they dry out too much...becoming hard pebbles, they don't reconstitute well. Basically, if after soaking in water for about 5minutes they don't turn tacky and stay hard, then I find them not good enough to get to "cream" consistency. I hope that makes sense. :) Happy Painting! Best, BB

[@II-pq3qg]

Thank you I appreciate your tutorial.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome. :)

[@janc734]

So well explained- thank you

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you and you are welcome. :)

[@callmedeno]

Very thorough, thanks a lot Brienne!

[@callmedeno]

Is one of the reasons that a lot of watercolorists use blue / purple in shadows because it's hard to get darker values with other hues? I understand reflected light outdoors most often causes shadows to have a blueish hue, but say indoors with very little blue light I find myself still reaching for blues just to get that value down into darks. I don't like adding black because it often kills the cohesion, but when doing warm shadows without sky reflections in them what sort of technique do you use to get darks? Thanks

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks and you are welcome.

[@briennembrown5938]

@@callmedeno ... Great question. you don't need to have blue/purple in shadows. you are correct in that most shadows outside will reflect some of the sky color and so can have blue (cool) color to them. However, you can get dark, warm shadows by getting more pigment and greying or neutralizing the color with the compliment. Indoors you can have warm or cool shadows depending on the surface the shadow is cast on, the light, and the reflected light from near by objects. Can get complex and not just grey or black. There is no universal color for a shadow... :) Hope this helps.

[@cathyquilts2609]

Brienne M Brown Wow. You have such a wealth of information. OK, heading to your website now!

[@minakshi005]

👍 Awesome explanation

[@briennembrown5938]

Glad it was helpful! You are welcome!

[@marshotto4945]

Hi Brienne. Thanks for this video! I am a beginner, my first paintings were just last month, and I realize that I have been entirely in the tea and coffee colours with lots of glazing. I have been using the dry paint blocks. I must admit I have washes down pretty good, lol! I just purchased some watercolour tubes, I am anxious to try more intensive pigment less water, into the milk and cream consistency!

[@briennembrown5938]

Thank you Marsh... I am glad this video was helpful and so glad you started painting with watercolor! It can be so much fun, if not a little frustrating. But, stick with it! Just keep painting and playing with the paint! Enjoy the journey! Brienne :)

[@cecileegeorgeson_artist]

This is an eye opener! Well explained thankyou

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad this was helpful Cecilee. :) You are welcome. Happy Painting! :)

[@cecileegeorgeson_artist]

@@briennembrown5938 looking forward to watching more of your tutorials I love listening to your accent and your teaching style...

[@mariamyre9778]

Great video 🤩🎨🎉❣️

[@briennembrown5938]

Thanks so much 😊

[@LizatHome]

Thanks so much for a really helpful video.

[@briennembrown5938]

You are welcome :)

[@karenmccoy5951]

Very enlightening. I’ve always struggled with this.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am glad it was helpful....Happy Painting! BB

[@cheralsquyresArt]

You are amazing. I’m an artist of over 30 yrs. Watercolor has always intimidated me. Let me know if you teach on line. I’m interested

[@marynelson1349]

Thank you that made alot of sense.

[@briennembrown5938]

I am so glad this was helpful. Thank you Mary. :)