Gouache & Cold Wax | Learn how to Paint With Expressive Movement

Subtitles are available for my hard of hearing or deaf followers.

• Start the class playing, and you will be able to access them on the right underneath the video. Subtitles are available in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese too!
• There is also access to a transcript as the class is playing, which can be found here: 

Welcome, welcome welcome!! The theme for today is "Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention" lol
Let me explain...

For a long while I've been feeling deeply frustrated that I can't use acrylics (i'm very allergic, to oils too). I was missing that rich, thick texture and variety of techniques which, I thought, only acrylics and oils could offer.

About a week ago, I was tidying my art supplies, when I discovered a small pot of Dorlands cold wax. I couldn't believe it was still usable, as I bought it several years ago!

I had a bit of a brainwave and thought I'd try to find videos on the technique I was thinking about, but came up blank!, so I thought, well, there's only one way to see...... so, I went ahead and mixed....... Gouache with Cold Wax!!!

I was managing expectations, as gouache is, of course, water-based, and wax is, well, waxy! Never would I have believed that the two would mix beautifully! I felt like 'Deliciously Ella' when she discovered that freezing bananas and then liquidising them makes THE most amazing ice cream haha

I am beyond thrilled about this discovery, and I am definitely going to be singing about this from the rooftops!
So what will I be sharing with you today? I'll be sharing how to:

• Mix gouache & cold wax, in a thicker consistency and also a more delicate, translucent mix.
• Practise your Catalyst spatula strokes: we'll be channeling our favourite artists and jumping head-long into creating broad, expressive strokes, using our cheapest paper (I will be using kid's easel paper!)
• Experimenting with the feel of the silicone catalyst... How flexible is it? Can we use both sides for different directional strokes. Can we use it for smaller petal shapes? ... All will be answered.
• Blending colours on the page.
• Creating a dreamy, 'denoise' effect with our application, using solely the cold wax to soften edges
• Mark-making using the edge of our catalyst
• Sealing our finished studies with cold wax

This Class Is For Those Who:

1. are new to painting ... through to anybody wanting to learn this incredible new technique, to add to their repertoire.
2. want to try something totally new!
3. want to explore gentle impasto techniques
4. would like to paint in an acrylic style which is more eco-friendly, and produces fewer fumes.
5. dreamed of, one day, throwing paint around with abandon!
6. would like to explore & develop your own unique style.
   
7. like me, can't access acrylics or oils.

Whatever your reason, I am so excited about seeing how you get on! I think you're gonna love it :O)

• Materials:

Scrap paper/Easel Paper: easel paper

Watercolour or acrylic paper of your choice (I used Hahnemühle Harmony)

Scissors

Palette Paper: palette paper

01 Mini Silicone Catalyst Spatula: catalyst tool

Cold Wax: cold wax

• Gouache:

Hansa Yellow Light

Lamp Black 

White (I tested out Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith & Holbein)

Wisteria

Ultramarine Blue

Washi/masking tape: Washi Tape & Masking Tape

Cotton wool pads for sealing.

Cloth or kitchen roll.