When visitors enter Sieglinde Grunert's hallway, it becomes immediately obvious what fills the 84-year-old Dresden resident with passion: painting. A colorful still life hangs on one wall, instantly captivating the eye. In her living room, an abstract painting in vibrant green and bright red dominates the space. Both works were created by her own hand.

Grunert's first artistic attempts began when she was in her early twenties. For her husband, she painted a picture of Dresden's Zwinger palace as a housewarming gift when they moved in together. The small painting still hangs in her living room today. The subject matter was fitting, as both Sieglinde Grunert and her husband are Dresden natives.

This acrylic paint on glass work was one of Grunert's earliest pieces. However, she didn't begin painting regularly on paper until years later. Following an accident in 2007, when she was 66 years old, she had to attend rehabilitation for two months. Her daughter encouraged her to take up her old hobby again and enrolled her in a course at the Creative Workshop in Dresden. Under the guidance of artists Katharina Lewonig and Sabine Fiedler-Mohrmann, she learned various artistic techniques including collage and watercolor painting. She regularly participated in these meetings for six years.

The idea to combine art and coffee came about through an accident. While she was painting, a cup tipped over and coffee spilled across the paper. The effect sparked Grunert's interest. From that first experiment, she developed her own unique technique. The foundation of her method is instant coffee, which she mixes in various concentrations. The coffee grounds must be dried beforehand. "This works quite well in the microwave," explains Grunert.

The most time-consuming aspect of this method is having the patience to wait until the paper is no longer wet. "When it needs to be very fine, I always have to wait until the layers are really dried and won't run together," she explains.

The first large picture she painted with coffee depicts the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden. Other motifs were inspired by historical city views, such as the Canaletto paintings. Grunert was also creative during her vacations. "On Ibiza, I made a spontaneous sketch because I liked the castle so much," she recalls. Back home, she then recreated the motif on a larger scale.

Grunert has also painted multiple versions of Dresden's Semper Opera House using coffee on paper. She has created flowers and still lifes with coffee as well. For the children's rooms of her four grandchildren and soon three great-grandchildren, several animal motifs have emerged, including adorable coffee cats. "My children always give me lots of inspiration for new pictures," she says.

Grunert attended art courses taught by Manfred Eckelt in Dresden-Pappritz. In 2017, she switched to the Saxon Switzerland Art Association along with a friend. "You're around people and make new friendships, which I particularly enjoy," she explains.

The association's structure is deliberately kept open: typically, members work on their projects at home and meet once a month to exchange ideas. "We have a really good leader who also organizes art trips with overnight stays," says Grunert enthusiastically. A particularly special experience for her was painting in Saxon Switzerland.

Over the years, Grunert has created numerous colorful artworks. With the association, she regularly displays her works, such as at the Pirna Art Days. "I exhibited my very first coffee paintings in Pirna at Café Schmole. A few are still there today. I'm very happy about that," she says.

The first Dresden cityscape painted with coffee was actually sold. A Dresden woman who moved to the Spreewald took it as a memento. "I never would have expected that," says Grunert, visibly moved. The grandmother and great-grandmother emphasizes that she doesn't feel lonely at all. "This is important for me to say. You have to do something to keep going," she states firmly. She has resolved to live to at least 90 years old.

A new day always begins for Grunert with a cup of coffee – with milk, unsweetened. And sometimes, the coffee ends up on paper, intentionally. "You have to do something to keep going," reflects the artist who has turned an accidental spill into a unique art form that brings joy to herself and others.