Exercise 15:
PAINTING WITH GOUACHE

IN THIS EXERCISE, YOU WILL PAINT WITH GOUACHE TO CREATE AN ABSTRACT PIECE IN BLACK AND WHITE. I HAVE WORKED WITH GOUACHE MY WHOLE CREATIVE CAREER. TO SAY I LOVE IT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. IT IS THE MOST FORGIVING AND MOST VERSATILE MEDIUM. IT CAN BE REVIVED AFTER IT DRIES UP WITH JUST A FEW DROPS OF WATER. GOUACHE ALSO DRIES QUICKLY AND GIVES AN OPAQUE, MATTE LOOK.

Inexpensive brush for mixing

Black heavy cardstock or watercolor paper

Round paintbrush

NOTE: There are three consistencies of gouache paint: heavy/creamy (almost the consistency of yogurt), medium, and light. These are achieved by the amount of water you mix with the gouache. The creamier consistency is a flat opaque color. The medium and light versions give more of a watercolor effect.

VARIOUS CONSISTENCIES OF GOUACHE

Light

Medium

Heavy and creamy

1. Cover your work space with newspaper or large craft paper.

2. Put a few dots of gouache onto your palette and slowly add water. Mix the gouache to a creamy, yogurt-like consistency. Use an inexpensive brush to mix the paint.

3. Set up the black paper you will paint on.

4. Load the round brush with white gouache and softly paint leaf and loop shapes. Painting these shapes allows you to feel the flow and movement of the paint as you push and pull it across the paper. You will get a sense for how long your loaded brush paints before you have to reload.

5. Paint with the belly of the brush, which makes for a nice, thick line.

6. Fill your page, painting confidently right to the edges of your paper. I recommend you glide your strokes off the edges so there is no visual hesitation in your stroke.