Coffee: Dark that adds depth to depiction

Coffee painting drawn by Tousef. Photo: Courtesy

Coffee is famously known for its rich aroma, dark colour and beguile of the bitter taste. The roasted beans - crushed and brewed, make for a fine beverage that often is a fine converser and even a beautiful companion: To contemplate, confine and convey. 

The traits of coffee makes for a good substitute for colour in a painting, giving it the character of a succinct playlet. The warm earthy tone - variant in their deepness, make for an eloquent conveyance.  

Sitting in a café, during a break at work or in the confinements of home, one only needs a cup of coffee, a sheet, canvas or surface - something for the dark stains to leave their mark on and their own imagination and conversation with themselves to convey an expression of emotion; or even art. 

Coffee painting drawn by Tousef. Photo: Courtesy

It need not be an own creation, but even a copy with coffee can be of an intriguing appeal. In terms of subjects - art imitates life, with all its details of despairs and delight.

While brushes leave a trail of intricate and smooth lines of that beige and brown, finger tips make for an interesting contrast against that smoothness - one with a unique pattern as the individual. 

Absorbent and dense paper sheets - drawing papers and fabrics along canvas make for good surface to paint on with coffee. 

The deepest of lines are left by the darkest of Espresso, with Mocha and Americano being better for highlights and shading tones. An unruly camaraderie of combining coffee notes with the grace of saffron and amore of red wine is another way one can make the stains more artistic, with a personal touch.

Coffee painting drawn by Tousef. Photo: Courtesy

Coffee stains vary in their hue, depending on how long since they have been brewed, or have been sitting in the mug or cup. These varying hues make for a fine way of conveying the varying tones. Whatever it is that one is painting, it is not required to be finished with a single cup - rather through the many cups of coffee one takes on a regular day. That way, it makes for a constant companion - one that takes shape based on the mood, season and so on. 

What might just be an outline under the radiant beams of early morning hours, may very well find itself a palette under the midday sun or the noon; the golden hours in the afternoon may give it a new dimension and as evening strolls in - with a night following, the moon and dark sky just might give the visage a new depth. Just as coffee, any pasquinade or squib its stains should depend on the person and their palate.

Coffee painting drawn by Tousef. Photo: Courtesy

As the choice of coffee may also vary through the different hours of the day, the camaraderie between artistic expressions, the time of the day and the coffee in the cup go a long way. For example, one usually might start the day with something stronger like Espresso, Macchiato, Cortado or Americano. The darker concoctions of coffee better make for defining lines and deeper colour palette. As do the sediments in Mocha.

Americano can be toned down with some water for lighter shades, and adding in some saffron will make for a colour of grandeur and grace. 
Latte or Cappuccino, having milk in them, are much lighter in colour but also much less opaque than a toned down stain of Americano - making them better suited for painting faces and flower petals. 

Since a cup of coffee is to be enjoyed than just be had, so should be things revolving around it - one should never hurry with a scribble, rather savour the moment, the sips and let the brush strokes and stains find their own pace.