NCBG Gouache June 2016

I added a little blue and a few details.

This is the white gouache on a dark watercolor background.  It's a value study of light on dark, very good practice.  You can leave it as is or add color.

On textured backgrounds I most often start with white and then the darks. This helps define the subject on the textured background.  

I continue adding lights and darks and getting the first pass on all the shapes.  I start adding color, moving it around to keep balance.

More color, more values.  I also added a tiny bit of green to darken the background next to the mushroom (to push it back).  I started adding some detail and texture, as that is the next step along with continuing to define and refine.

This is the start on a different textured background.

NCBG Gouache June 2016

Wax paper texture - Wet paper, drop in watercolor, put crumpled wax paper on surface and a book on top until it's dry.

Salt texture - Wet paper, drop in watercolor (or gouache or acrylic), add salt when the paper is shiny, but not a puddle.

Salt and rubbing alcohol texture - Wet paper, drop in watercolor, add salt when the paper is shiny, but not a puddle.  Drop on alcohol when the paper is still wet.

Plastic wrap texture - Wet paper, drop in watercolor, put plastic wrap on paper and scrunch it to make the texture.  The dark blue marks were made because I started adding color without wetting the paper first...

Plastic wrap texture - Wet paper, drop in watercolor, put plastic wrap on paper and scrunch it to make the texture.

Wet paper and drop in color and let it move.

Bubble wrap texture - Wet paper, drop in watercolor, put bubble wrap on paper and put a book on top.

Toothbrush splatter texture - Dry paper, dip toothbrush in watercolor, use your finger to scrape the bristles causing a splatter.

Wet paper, run the color around in a pattern.

Dark background - wet paper and paint the paper yellow (you can try other colors too).  Let it dry.  Mix a dark and paint it over the yellow.  You can leave it as is to dry or spray it with a fine mist spray bottle.

NCBG Gouache, June 2016

Local color, first pass.

Local color, second pass, done at home.

Local color, third pass done in class.  I added more darks and lightened some areas.  I added some yellow to add a glow as well as more light and some details.

Value Study, first pass.

Value study, second pass.  I started adding the local color using the value study as a road map.  The values underneath also influences/affects the color I place on top.

This started as a textured watercolor background (you can also do the background in gouache, but watercolor works a bit better as a background).  The paper was wet, the blue and green dropped in, and plastic wrap placed on top and scrunched to create the textures.  Leave the plastic wrap on until the paint is dry.  Then I transferred the drawing and started adding white as well as the dark (it helps me see the subject better).  I need to finish adding the lights and darks.

NCBG Gouache, June 2016

Local Color, the class demonstration.  First I painted it flat color and then made first pass with white gouache to add highlights and lighten a few areas.

Value Study, class demonstration.  I used the gouache more like watercolor to paint the value study of the pea flower.

NCBG Gouache, June 2016

Gouache, Local Color, step 1

Gouache, Value Study, step one.