Learning To Paint In Gouache
3yr
Gannon Beck
I've been playing around with gouache a bit lately. To study, I've been watching Jeff Watts videos and practicing small heads to get a feel for the paint and trying to get control of my values.
I've got a long way to go, but I can tell gouache is the medium for me. I like that it can be used in an opaque manner, and that I can set it aside and work on it whenever I have time. Even the drying time just seems to suit my temperament.
I'm sure I'll do larger studies, color studies, etc. For the short term, I just want to create a painting habit in my life to build up brush mileage as Jeff Watts says.
I'll post to this thread as I go to track progress.
Very good! Pretty impressive for being first attempts, I wish I had your clear understanding of values when I tried gouache for the first time. It seems you very carefully saved the white of the paper, which is a way to paint in gouache I always appreciate. I am following Watts lessons as well, hoping they will help me developing a deeper and more disciplined approach to this medium, and yes, growing a stronger painting habit. Really good job!
Thanks, Francesco! Jeff Watts is great. I'm not sure how to explain it, but his procedure made a lot more sense to me than other painting approaches and videos I've tried. I'm not sure if it's just that the medium suits me, or if Jeff Watts is just that good, but I'm excited about painting. For the first time, I feel like I can finally get good at it.
Gauche is a fantastic medium that is very underrated.
When I was at school my teachers tried to talk me out of using it and into acrylics (which I never liked for painting, too limited. I only use them for plastic models).
The only time I ever responded to a teacher (I suffer from anxiety!!!) was when the graphic design teacher told me for the umpteenth time to use acrylics instead "No! I refuse, I'm disgusted by them, do you understand?" "You mean like cockroaches?" "Not at all, Cockroaches are interesting insects!"
It's a really versatile material and you can apply it in a lot of different ways depending on the dilution.
The only problem is finding a good brand in which the pigment is well ground, especially when it comes to black.
I recently sent for a supply of paints from a historic Florentine factory that a friend suggested (apparently they also supplied some French Impressionists), because I'm going to paint some landscapes.
I haven't had time to try them yet (stupid job!) but maybe I'll open a post with a review later.
For first attempts, your studies are definitely very good!
I dare not imagine what level you will be at in a few months :D
Well done, really!
Thanks, Serena!
I feel the same way about acrylics. I played with them a while because I wanted to work with an opaque medium, but was worried about the smells and turpentine with oils since my painting space is small. I'm willing to try them again at some point, but I'm not in a rush. The biggest drawback with acrylics was the limited time for blending. Gouache doesn't have the same issues, so I'm surprised more people don't talk about it. Maybe I have just been running in the wrong circles, but I'm glad I finally found my way to them. Better late than never!
These are super clean!! nice contrast as well! When I was starting out on gouache I mostly did muddy stuff because I wasn't very good at mixing XD
Thanks, Yiming! I'm doing these in four values and will add more as I go. I still don't quite have a handle on it's coming along.
These are great! I like how you've included a background in each one. I always forget to do that...
