Agathe Singer - Gouache: An Artist’s Guide to Painting with Gouache on the Go!

Encourage yourself to practice painting everyday by dedicating a specific space in your home in which to work and by gathering quality tools that will inspire you to paint. Take the time to discover your own habits and favorite tools, including the time of day that you prefer to work, the pencils you feel most at ease with, and the type of paper that you like best.

At home, I have a big working desk that faces a wall, but I prefer to paint on my little wooden table by a windowit is barely big enough, but it feels just right. On the table I set a decorated box filled with all my color tubes, a porcelain water jug, my favorite brushes, and paper. I wait until my husband takes our daughter to day care, and then I turn on an audiobook and begin to work.

Keep in mind that reflection is an important part of the painting process, so allow yourself time to ponder the possibilities. When you feel ready, begin to sketch or, if you prefer, jump directly into the piece. I myself like to start from scratch and see where the drawing takes me. Allow yourself to be surprised.

Now, lets get started! Take out your color tubes or blocks, fill up your clean-water jug or dish, and get ready to paint anywhere, anytime!

To create the paintings and projects in this book, I used a wide range of gouache paint tubes, plastic palettes, ceramic plates, and a variety of paintbrushes.

I painted on watercolor paper of various sizes. A pad of watercolor paper is easy to carry, and with the addition of some water, you will find that you can paint anywhere you go.

Gouache paint is similar to watercolor in that the paint is mixed with water before use. Unlike watercolor, gouache is opaque instead of transparent. Gouache dries quickly, but you can always add more water and continue to work.

PAN SETS

These might remind you of your childhood. When I started to paint again with gouache, I bought a box of kids paints to revive the joy of those simple colors. The pan is easy to transport and use, though the texture is thinner and the colors less vivid than the ones sold in tubes.

TUBES

My favorite paints are those sold in tubes. In addition to basic tones, you will find a wide range of beautiful colors. Some brands offer as many as ten different tones of blue or red alone. The texture can vary considerably based on the quality of the gouache. Try different brands and quality ranges to see what suits you the best.

PAINTBRUSHES

Paintbrushes can be made from natural animal (squirrel, pony, badger) or synthetic hair, which is cheaper and easier to wash. Each material has a different touch and flexibility. I love to use a variety of very thin, firm brushes for details, and two or three larger, softer brushes for backgrounds.

PALETTE

I mix my color on ceramic plates or reusable plastic palettes. Ceramic plates are easy to wash but heavier to carry around, whereas reusable plastic palettes are lighter and very practical.

PAPER

You can paint on various papers, but dont forget that gouache is a water-based medium. If you use a paper that is too thin, it will warp when water is added. I usually use a 300 gsm hot-pressed watercolor paper with a smooth texture. You can also paint on paper with a thin or rough grain. Although it is harder to paint very thin details on a rough-textured paper, the texture does bring an interesting and raw quality to a painting.

PAPER BLOCKS & SKETCHBOOK

I usually work with several paper blocks at the same time; it allows me to work on a new project while another one dries. I also keep sketchbooks on the side to try new color swatches or sketch an idea.