Gouache from the car
Posted: October 20, 2019 Filed under: Uncategorized 27 CommentsI spent the past few days experimenting with on-location gouache painting, from my car studio, of course. I don’t have a good setup for the car like I do for watercolour, but somehow I managed to make it work by balancing a butcher tray on the passenger seat. A bit of a messy endeavour but it was a good temporary solution until I figure out a better setup.
My first sketch was done on Stillman & Birn beige paper, which gives a warm glow under the paint. I did my initial drawing using raw umber pigment and then painted on top of that. The result is quite pasty, maybe because I used too much white paint in my mixes. This stuff does take a bit of getting used to.
The next day I changed my working methods. First of all, I used a block of cold press watercolour paper, instead of toned paper. I also tried not to touch the white pigment until the very end, and instead of keeping the colours muted, I tried to see how saturated I could get them. Good thing the leaves are at their brightest this week! I am loving playing with gouache pigments, and will likely continue with more experimentation and research this week.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Definitely loving the glow of the second painting! Almost makes me want to take a break from regular watercolor. I think I should get that medium understood first before attempting something else. I’ll be happy just admiring your work:)
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Thanks so much Denise. Of course I haven’t given up on watercolour, but as you know, I love to experiment.
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What a remarkable difference, Shari! That second one really SINGS!…And your description of the first is probably pretty accurate. I have rarely ventured into the Gouache area, and most likely will not, but LOVE your venture into success with it!!
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Hi Kathy, There really was a difference in the two versions, and I think it has a lot to do with the paper. Now that I have been doing a lot of research into the work of other artists, I can see that most people work on white paper, either a watercolour block or watercolour illustration board. So my next gouache paintings will certainly be on a white background. Hope you’re well!
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Very nice!
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Thanks so much!
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J’adore tes expériences à la gouache, le deuxième croquis est vraiment lumineux. Je pense depuis longtemps à travailler à la gouache. Voir de si beaux résultats m’encourage à l’essayer. Tu connais le travail de l’illustrateur Juan Linares, (sur Facebook) ses carnets à la gouache sont remarquables?
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Bonjour Jean-Pierre. So nice to hear from you. Of course I have seen the sketches of Juan Linares, but I need to take another look to see how he uses gouache. And I encourage you to try gouache. I think you might enjoy it too.
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These are wonderful paintings. I love gouache but it is definitely tricky. Have you seen Heather Martins
‘s gouache paintings? https://instagram.com/heatherihnart?igshid=o81vc6hfdmee
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Hi Ros. I love Heather Martin’s work, and I also follow Mike Hernandez (SquatchGoache on Instagram). His work is also wonderful! Check it out if you don’t know him.
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Now she’s a gouache master! OMG! You are truly amazing Ms Blaukopf.
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You are really too kind. I am just playing and experimenting but I appreciate your very generous comments.
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I love the vibrancy of the second painting! I’ve tried gouache a few times on toned paper. It is so different from working in watercolors. I have a hard time going from dark to light…but I also left the white alone until the end of my painting. It will be fun to see the results you get with the gouache.
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Thanks so much Joan. Unlike you, I like the challenge of shifting to working dark to light. So far, it has required much more focus to think through the painting process.
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Both paintings are beautiful and very atmospheric. Of course the second, with its bright contrasting hues is a knockout but I also really enjoyed the subdued and somewhat “flattened” feeling of the first. Both compositions are very strong and 100% Shari Blaukopf. Always a great delight to see your work even at its most experimental.
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Ah Jeff. Thank you so much, my friend. I think I have to do many more gouache paintings to really understand how this works, but I really appreciate your feedback, as always.
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I haven’t used gouache in forever, but my friend Nina Khaschina uses them a lot, and she gave me this box which works really well and keeps paints moist and creamy for a LONG time:
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I remember when you posted this and I loved seeing that gift box. A friend of mine showed me the “Sta-Wet” palette. Have you ever seen anyone use this? https://www.currys.com/catalogpc.htm?CATEGORY=STA_WET_PALETTES
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Trouble with the sta-wet ( and this is second hand info
from Nina) is that your gouache colors develop a fungus more easily ( gouache does that!)
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Good to know. I bought a small one but since I only squeeze out a tiny bit of paint, I will make sure to wash it out more often so as not to develop fungus. Unless, of course, I decide to add some fungus in my sketches, a bit like you put a blob of clay in your sketchbook : )
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Yes, true Shari style, in spite of a new medium. They kind of remind me of the tempera paint I used to use with my kids in the elementary classroom. I used to teach them about Emily Carr, our west coast of Canada famous painter of the past. Then the kids would do a similar style of landscape painting with stylized trees, using a multiple of greens that they had to mix themselves using just the primaries and white ( using tempera paint). I look forward to seeing more of your work as you study and practice with gauche.
Peri
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Nice pics, I had my first dabble with 100% cotton watercolour paper the last few days, and had a lot of fun doing scenes with red sumac.
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I really like the composition of the top painting, and the muted greens, yellows, and reds.
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I too, have been experimenting with gouache and after using watercolor it is an adjustment. Bit I like the end results though!
Do you have a separate palette just for your gouache?
Love the new watercolor palette and colours you chose. Maximum mixing ability I see!!!
Many thanks,
Tami
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Ms. Blaukopt, your city scene is awesome. I do watercolor too but I really like how I could almost be there even though the image is just a representation. Very nice!
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Thanks so much for writing!
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