How to Use Tea To Butter to Keep Your Watercolor Painting Values Strong

How to Use Tea To Butter to Keep Your Watercolor Painting Values Strong BRIENNE M BROWN Last week, I painted this scene using only Payne’s Gray. This week, I’m painting the same scene in full color, but I’m keeping the same value structure underneath it. The key is Tea to Butter: using paint consistency to control your values, even when you are changing colors. One thing I’ve noticed with beginning watercolor artists is that once color is introduced, it can become very easy to focus on mixing beautiful colors and accidentally lose the values. The colors start competing with each other, and the painting can quickly become darker or more intense than intended. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Review of Tea to Butter 02:27 First Wash - Tea Consistency 05:31 Middle Value Stage - Coffee & Milk Consistency 06:16 Painting Foreground Trees 09:40 Painting Reflections 11:29 Adding the Dark Shapes & Details 13:09 Review Key Concepts 13:41 Conclusion In this watercolor painting tutorial, I’m showing you how I think about paint consistency while painting this scene in full color. More water and less pigment give me lighter values, while less water and more pigment create darker values. By keeping that consistency in mind, I can change the colors without losing the underlying value structure. I begin with the lightest washes using lots of water and just a little pigment. I then gradually build the middle values and darker areas, using the monochromatic study from my previous painting as a guide. The sky, golden trees, water, reflections, and darker masses all get different colors, but the values remain connected. This is one of the things I love about the Tea to Butter watercolor technique. It gives you a simple way to think about value while still allowing plenty of freedom with color. As you work through a watercolor painting, it can be tempting to ask, “Is this green warm enough?” or “Is this orange bright enough?” But sometimes the more important question is: Is the paint consistency giving me the value I need? Once you start thinking about value first, choosing and mixing colors becomes much easier. If you’re learning how to watercolor, looking for practical watercolor techniques, or working on your watercolor painting skills as a beginner, I hope this demonstration helps you see paint consistency in a new way. Happy painting! Brienne M Brown An American Watercolor Artist Art Courses: https://www.travelingcolorsstudio.com/ ABOUT BRIENNE M BROWN Brienne M Brown is a contemporary American watercolor artist known for her expressive, light-filled paintings and practical, process-driven approach to art. Working from her mobile setup, Traveling Colors Studio, she captures everyday scenes with a focus on mood, color, and simplicity. Brienne is also a dedicated educator, sharing in-depth tutorials on watercolor techniques, studio practices, and professional presentation methods—helping artists not just paint, but finish and showcase their work with confidence. Website: https://www.briennembrown.com/ KEYWORDS: tea to butter tea to butter watercolor watercolor painting watercolor watercolour how to watercolor watercolor tutorial watercolor masterclass plein air painting watercolor plein air painting plein air painting for beginners plein air painting tips watercolor techniques beginner watercolor tutorial watercolor technique painting tutorial watercolor plein air watercolor watercolor for beginners watercolor tips and tricks watercolor painting tutorial #watercolorpainting #watercolorpaintingforbeginners #watercolorpaintings