Art made from coffee
Something is always brewing in Gerard Tonti's studio - literally. The Pittsburgh-born artist paints with coffee and tea.
This graphic designer-by-day used to paint the old-fashioned way, with paint, until the day he became fascinated by the vibrant color of his cup of green tea.
"I thought, 'Well, I know that they can be used as stains; I wonder if I can bind this and make this into a painting medium, what that would be like?'"
Pictured: Tonti's "The Letter," made with hibiscus tea, rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, coffee filter papers and rice papers on canvas board.
"Morning Cup"
Gerard Tonti's "Morning Cup": Rooibos tea, rose petal tea, chicory, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, and rice papers on canvas.
Brewing Art
The actual painting requires a bit of a juggling act in Tonti's basement studio, which doubles as a sort of chemistry lab where he brews his colors.
"I'll set the easels up," Tonti told CBS News' Anna Werner, "work on a piece -- you can see I have several going at the same time -- but I'm actually brewing and making paint as I'm working."
Cuppa Art
And what else to drip his paints on but a layered surface of coffee filters.
"You have to have it all; it's part of the project," Tonti laughed.
"Espresso Drip"
"Espresso Drip," made with rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, coffee filter papers and rice papers on canvas.
"Park Barista"
"Park Barista" by Gerard Tonti. Chicory, coffees, and espresso on watercolor paper.
"Spoon"
Getting a full spectrum of colors requires Tonti to buy coffee and tea from around the world, shipped to his home outside Pittsburgh that he shares with his wife and two children - like a special tea from Thailand that is blue.
Pictured: "Spoon," made from rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, matcha powder, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, coffee filter papers and rice papers on canvas.
"Early Morning in the Strip"
Gerard Tonti's "Early Morning in the Strip," made with rose petal tea, chicory, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds and espresso beans on canvas.
"Mug"
Gerard Tonti's "Mug." Made from hibiscus tea, rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, coffees, espresso and espresso grinds, coffee filter papers, rice papers and plywood.
"Mug"
A detail from Gerard Tonti's "Mug."
"Scoop 2"
Gerard Tonti's "Scoop," made from hibiscus tea, rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, coffee filter papers and rice papers on canvas.
That textured surface is actually coffee grounds.
"A Cup of Shadyside"
So why does Tonti do it? "For me, it's all about the challenge," he said. "You know, it's been about the process and the challenge. I think if somebody can look at a piece and it makes them feel warm like, you know, a warm cup of coffee in a coffee shop, I think the job's done."
Pictured: "A Cup of Shadyside" by Gerard Tonti. Made with rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, matcha powder, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, and watercolor paper on canvas.
"First Sip"
Gerard Tonti's "First Sip," made with hibiscus tea, rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, coffee filter papers and rice papers on plywood.
"New Shipment"
Gerard Tonti's "New Shipment," made with chicory, coffees, and espresso on watercolor paper.
"Market Square"
"Market Square": Chicory, coffees, and espresso on watercolor paper.
"Evening at the Hive"
"An Evening at the Hive": Rooibos tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, matcha powder, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, and watercolor paper on canvas.
"Scoop"
"Scoop," made from hibiscus tea, clitoria ternatea tea, calendula tea, coffees, espresso, espresso grinds, coffee filter papers, and rice papers on watercolor paper.
"Summer Morning"
"Summer Morning" by Gerard Tonti. Rooibos tea, chicory, coffees, and espresso on watercolor paper.
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By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan