This class was designed with my beginner-self in mind. When I first started learning gouache, I remember how confusing the medium was and how frustrated it left me feeling whenever I tried to paint with it.
Looking back now, I realise those frustrations arose from not understanding the properties of gouache and the techniques required to use the medium.
With that in mind, I structured this class to focus on understanding three major properties of gouache:
<ol><li>Gouache can be thinned down with water and used transparently or opaquely</li>
<li>Gouache reactivates with water</li>
<li>Gouache changes value from wet to dry</li>
</ol>Having a fundamental understanding of these properties allows us to then learn the techniques required to take advantage of the properties and how to overcome the challenges they bring. The techniques I focus on teaching are:
<ol><li>Control of water to get the right consistency</li>
<li>Understanding layering and drying times</li>
<li>Understanding changing values</li>
</ol>Throughout the class there are exercises for you to follow along with, so you get a chance to practice the skill immediately. At the end of the class there is also a real time painting demonstration in which I take you through step-by-step on how to paint a seascape. This is a chance for you to put into practice all the skills taught in this class.   
My goal is to leave you feeling more confident and more excited to use gouache. It took me a while to get there but I’m hoping that by sharing all the knowledge that I gathered along the way in this class, you’re able to experience the joys of gouache much sooner. Let’s get into the class!
Music: Easy Lemon (60 second) by Kevin MacLeod Link: <a href="https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3696-easy-lemon-60-second-" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3696-easy-lemon-60-second-</a> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a>

Introduction

Materials

What is gouache?

Getting started: swatching colours

Getting the right consistency

Control of water

Thin washes

Blending: how I get smooth blends

Blending exercise 1: simple gradient

Blending exercise 2: advanced gradient

Blending exercise: mistakes

Dry brushing

Dry brushing exercise: clouds

First lesson summary

Layering: thin to thick

Drying times: wet to dry

Layering exercise: white daisy

Value change

Light values dry darker

Dark values dry lighter

Palette management

Project + closing thoughts

Part 1 painting demo in real time

Part 2 painting demo in real time

Part 3 painting demo in real time

Part 4 painting demo in real time

Part 5 painting demo in real time

Exercises.pdf

Seascape reference photo.jpg

Seascape painting

Beginners Guide to Gouache: Learning Control of Water, Blending, Layering & More

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Beginners Guide to Gouache: Learning Control of Water, Blending, Layering & More

Project Example by Jess Chung

Project Example by Jess Chung

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