Gouache? Yes, Gouache

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Little red barn, Vermont

Little Red Barn in Vermont, from an original photo. Holbein gouache in Strathmore Toned Gray sketchbook.

Since we're not going to London Book Fair this year, I've decided to attend the 3rd Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo in Monterey, California. I've been thinking about what materials to take besides watercolor. All the outdoor videos from last year's convention show painters dealing with a lot of wind (it is the coast, after all), so I'd probably have to invest in slower-drying acrylics if I went that route.

Gouache, on the other hand, seems to fit the bill nicely. It is compact, can be rewetted, and seems perfect for the smaller supports I'd be painting on given I'm taking two flights there and back. Feels like gouache (or even just adding opaque white to regular watercolors) flies under the radar a bit.

I've been looking at artists like Nathan Fowkes for inspiration, and playing with different papers. I'm really liking the way gouache looks on the Strathmore Toned Gray paper, and will try others.

What's your experience (if any) with gouache?

You Might Also Like

2 comments

  1. Suma, I didn't realize you had a blog. I've had a lot of fun going back and reading your posts and seeing your wonderful sketches. I'm still laughing about your post about church at Christmas. I'm putting a link to your blog on my blog so I can get to it easily. Hope to see you soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love this, Suma. May try some myself on the toned paper. Virginia does wonderful things with gouache, but I have only dabbled. Been thinking about you. Let's talk soon!

    ReplyDelete