Not Just a Tempest in a Teapot

Not Just a Tempest in a Teapot - It's a Great Wave by Meera Rao

Another used teabag upcycled !! This one, along with my three other teabag paintings, is in the Washington, D.C. Hill Center Galleries 2025 Capitol Hill Art League Juried Exhibition. The show runs from May 6 -September 6.  It has been a fun challenge to think up tea-related subjects to paint on the teabags.

A lovely teacup

Steeping leaves, the steam rises

Tempest? The Great Wave

~Meera Rao~

   

Sereni-Tea

Sereni-Tea in Every Cup watermedia on Upcycled Tea Bag by Meera Rao 

There is nothing like reliving the memories of a trip than painting a scene from the days I spent traveling there. Trip to China was a few years ago but there were many scenes I have been wanting to paint - just waiting for the right time! In my series on Tea bag paintings, so far I have limited the subject to all things tea:) There were many tea ceremonies we were treated to -each extolling the teas from the particular region. The common thread though, was beautiful serene young girls in traditional clothing serving the various teas in a very relaxing and traditional settings with exquisite tea paraphernalia. I never tired of those moments of peace and quiet beauty. 

anticipation 

tea steeping serenity

swirling aroma 

~Meera Rao~

Tempest In A Tea Cup

 Tempest in a Tea Cup watercolor, gouache and Ink  N.Y. Meera Rao 

A few years ago when a friend was visiting me,  I was removing a metal pin from tea bag after making my tea to put into compost. She asked ‘Did you know the tea bags are not compostable ?’  Since then I have been trying to use up tea bags I still had and buy loose tea. I have also been saving the bags and hoping to use it for some kind of eco art but never could figure out. As my stash grew bigger in a box labeled ‘tea bags for painting?’ I had to do something.  Yesterday the idea came to me to combine Hokusai’s waves coming out a Japanese teacup and title it  ‘Tempest in a tea cup’. The teabag seemed to be just right size canvas to illustrate the concept :)  So this is one of those long incubation ideas joining  my NYC metrocard art, mint tin altars, altered throwaway print photo art, upcycled Smithsonian Engagement Calendars, etc !