How to use moss rose or portulaca flower to paint?

One fine day I was looking at the flowers in our little garden.

A hanging bottle of pink portulaca flowers caught my eye. Hurriedly I took out my phone to take a picture and post it on Instagram.

I noticed that the flowers from yesterday were decreasing the beauty of today’s blossoms. So I hastily picked out the stale flowers. I noticed that there was a little pinkish glint on my hand, and blimey I said Eureka in my head.

Over the last few months, I had come across a coffee painting, I have seen people paint with Turmeric and beetroot too in the name of painting with natural ingredients. Oh, I was so excited to use the moss flowers.

There were two reasons for the excitement:

1. The color of portulaca was kind of pink which I was not able to make despite so much effort.

2. I did not have to spoiled my garden’s beauty for the color.

You can do it too in three simple steps:

1) Find a portulaca of any color. I used the ones in the picture.

2) Pluck the ones which bloomed yesterday.

3) Put them in a dish and add very little water.

4) Keep the dish tilted so that the colored water gets accumulated.

5) Take a brush and you are ready to use the natural and homemade color.

Initial Stage

Color seeps into the water

Light Color

The Color darkens

Finally, it's ready to use

Isn’t our nature a big miracle?

Here are some of the ways I used the color.

1) I drew a simple skyline in my journal.

2) If the sky was white

and the clouds were pink and

they would taste sweet

So I would eat every bit

Like cotton candy on a stick

3) I also used this for creating a little background for a quote I like.

4) The one on the left is done with portulaca color and the one on right is done with colors from watercolors and poster colors left on my palette.

I did not want to waste it so I did a little basic shapes practice.

Although this works fine with fresh flowers too, it might take a while before you get the colored water. The more time you leave the flowers in water the better your shade will be.

This could be a good activity to do with your little one too. In spite of being way older than a child, I found it so fascinating.

The color changes with time so I would not recommend it for something you want to keep it for the long term but oh the joy of doing this even once is no match. I am brimming with joy as I write this.

You should totally try it too and you can share it with me on Instagram @aejalsdrawingjourney.

I would love to see your creations.

Also, what are your thoughts about this blog?

Tell us in the comment section. I would love to interact with you.

Adios till the next time.