In addition to my oils, I brought a watercolor & gouache kit on our mini vacation. Gouache is an opaque watercolor. In my search for the perfect sketch setup, I tried a sample set of gouache I was given recently. With regular transparent watercolor if you want light colors you have to plan ahead and reserve them. Since gouache is opaque, I could add the light colors at any time including near the end of the painting. Since I am used to working dark to light in oil pastels, I like that I can do the same with the gouache. And as with watercolors, it dilutes and cleans with water.
I had a small sample set of Windsor-Newton gouache I was given recently. I used it with my Koi watercolor set to give me a larger variety of color in the gouache.
This painting was done in early evening after a day of rain. The sky was still filled with heavy rain clouds. But since I was in a happier mood than the clouds, I took some artistic license and painted as if it were a sunny day.
This was painted while sitting on a bench on a dock and listening to the birds and chipmunks.
Very peaceful...
Birch at Lakeside, 5x4", watercolor & gouache
