The Artist - UK (2021-02)

(Antfer) #1
22 artistFebruary 2021 http://www.painters-online.co.uk

GOUACHE


DEMONSTRATION
Snow near Grange, Cumbria

MATERIALS
l Arches Not paper, 140lb (300gsm),
tinted with a mix of raw sienna
and alizarin crimson acrylic paint.
l Winsor & Newton Designer
Gouache – I used the following
colours from a starter set
especially made for the beginner:
primary yellow, permanent
yellow deep, yellow ochre,
spectrum red, primary red,
ultramarine, primary blue, zinc
white.
l Brushes: two unbranded, inexpensive
rounds, sizes 8 and 12; a Pro Arte
series 203 rigger, size 2; a Rosemary &
Co series 274 fl at, size 4; two Pro Arte
series 203 rounds, sizes 5 and 4; a Royal
synthetic 5⁄8in fl at

TIP
This subject does not have a strong lead-in so,
without overdoing it, I introduced a subtle line of
marks to the foreground leading to the fi rst sheep
so that the viewer’s eye would move naturally to
the second sheep and into the painting.

 STAGE ONE
I drew out a very
simple outline using a
watery mix of primary
red plus yellow ochre

p STAGE TWO
I began to block in the major shapes and masses. For the background
hillside I used yellow ochre, primary red, a touch of ultramarine and zinc
white; I used the same mix for the large trees, but with less white. For
the mid-distant ground I used primary blue, a touch of spectrum red and
zinc white for the snow. The other colours on the ground were used in
the tree mixes. I was careful not to be too accurate at this early stage

 STAGE THREE
I continued to develop the foreground using the same colours. I began
to paint the distant trees against the hillside with yellow ochre, primary
yellow, ultramarine and zinc white; for the other small trees and bushes
I used ultramarine, spectrum red and zinc white

MY REFERENCE PHOTOGRAPH 
I was attracted by the warm and cool colour
combinations and the fact that the composition
needed very little adjustment. The quality of the
photograph isn’t brilliant, which isn’t always a bad
thing when working from photographic reference –
here it forced me to rely more on memory and instinct

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