Unconventional Materials: Painting with Coffee and Walnut Ink

Creating art can sometimes feel like a grand experiment, and my recent painting of screech owls on a textured coffee-and-walnut ink background proved that perfectly. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through my process, the materials I used, and some key tips for making your watercolor paintings stand out—without taking things too seriously.

Materials and Setup

For this painting, I combined walnut ink with espresso powder to create a moody, textured base. The process was simple: mix the two with water, brush it across your paper, and let it dry. The result? A rich, earthy tone with natural mottling—perfect for a woodland-inspired piece.

I used the following supplies:

• Walnut ink

• Espresso powder

• A range of watercolor pigments, including Bloodstone Genuine and Quinacridone Burnt Orange

• White gouache

• A selection of brushes (including a small liner brush for fine details)

• A spritzer bottle for texture effects

Painting the Screech Owls

1. Start with the Background

Once the walnut ink and espresso powder mixture dried, it was time to dive in. This textured wash lifts beautifully, making it forgiving if you need to adjust areas later. I leaned into the organic feel of the background, letting it guide my composition.

2. Sketching with Paint

Instead of starting with pencil, I jumped straight into painting the owls, keeping my strokes loose and intuitive. This approach helps maintain a sense of movement and spontaneity.

Key tip: Don’t worry about perfection early on—focus on the big shapes and values.

3. Eyes First, Then Features

Owls have striking eyes that draw attention, so I painted them early on using bold, dark pigments like Bloodstone Genuine. These details instantly gave the owls personality, making them come to life on the page.

4. Layering Feathers

I used dry brushing to suggest the direction and texture of feathers. Following the natural flow of their plumage added a layer of realism without overcomplicating the details.

Pro tip: Smudging with your fingers or lifting with a damp brush can add softness to areas you want less defined.

5. Adjustments on the Fly

When I realized the beak placement felt off, I didn’t panic. A quick lift of the paint and a new layer of pigment solved the issue. This flexibility is one of the joys of working on a lifting surface like my walnut-and-coffee background.

6. Building Contrast and Focus

To keep the focal point on the foreground owl, I added the darkest values and most intense colors around its face. Meanwhile, I kept the background owl softer and more subdued, allowing it to recede visually.

7. Final Details

I used gouache for highlights, like the soft white feathers on the face, and added finishing touches to suggest talons and a perch. The combination of opaque and transparent layers created depth and interest.

A Happy Accident

Toward the end, I experimented with spritzing granulation fluid over the “perch” area. Though I initially missed my target, the resulting texture was unexpectedly beautiful—proof that even mistakes can add magic to your art.

Takeaways for Your Art Practice

• Experiment freely: Whether it’s painting on unconventional surfaces or trying new mixtures, embrace the unknown.

• Work intuitively: Let your painting guide you—focus on shapes, values, and the overall story you want to tell.

• Use texture to your advantage: A textured base like this walnut-and-espresso wash adds instant character to your work.

Try It Yourself!

If you’re inspired to give this a go, I’ve linked the Unsplash reference photo I used in the comments of the YouTube tutorial accompanying this post. And if you want to paint with bold, vibrant colors, check out my free watercolor lesson, where I guide you through painting an expressive subject with exciting textures.

Let me know in the comments: have you ever painted on a coffee-stained background? What textures or surfaces inspire you most?

Happy painting!
– Valerie