Gouache

Full disclosure – I do not use gouache paints often! However, I absolutely love working with the opaqueness of the medium and love how forgiving it is.

When I moved to Wisconsin the local art center asked if I would be able to teach beginner gouache workshops. I told them I had many years of experience with watercolor, but my experience with gouache was mostly from incorporating Holbein Irodori paints (gouache) with watercolors. The fact that I had been teaching multiple art mediums for many years made teaching whatever it was a natural progression and they were happy I could fill their needs.

Above is my most recent completed gouache painting. Inspiration came from the location of my daughter’s wedding last summer. It was a magical venue in the Outer Banks, NC.

Below is the first stage of the painting, it demonstrates some of the techniques I used during the gouache workshop. I had to spend months deciding how to best add highlights and additional layers of color without creating mud!

Another completed gouache painting below, inspired by the end of a summer day spent in Fish Creek, WI.

Once again, I could only go so far during the workshop. Demonstrating is a part of what I do, but teaching and giving individualized attention to each student is a more important priority.

It takes time to assess where a painting is at in the creative process and what the next steps should be. Finishing what I start, bringing the piece home, and having fresh eyes all help to complete a painting.

This week I decided to setup a new travel palette for my gouache paints. I am using the same palette organization as with watercolor, referencing the color wheel.

Tomorrow is the upcoming workshop at PenArt in Door County, WI. All workshop info is available on their website here – https://www.peninsulaschoolofart.org/gouachepainting