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