Rivers and Gouache July 6th

Thanks to my good friend Parker helping me coordinate things we're putting together a series of three gouache workshops over the next several months, each one focussed on a different aspect of the landscape. The first workshop will take place at Laurel Creek, near Marshall, NC and focus on the river.

Why Gouache?

• It's agreeable. Gouache is a great medium to use while painting outside. It dries fast once brushed on, which allows for layering in real time and endless opportunities to correct mistakes. It also makes handling your painting easy when we're finished, in just minutes you can paint something in a sketchbook and close the book without smudging the page.

• It's all about mark making. Painting with Gouache prioritizes the individual brushtroke over rendering. Instead of toiling with blending, gouache is about placing a mark and moving on. This simplifies what can be a complex part of painting.

• It helps us think big. The nature of this medium prevents us from being overly "tight" with our painting. Gouache forces us to see the most essential traits of our subject, and to think big with our mark making. 

Gouache (pronounced gwäsh) was the medium I chose while painting in Spain this past April, and although it hasn't replaced oil paint as my favorite medium it has made me a better oil painter.

There are two kinds of Gouache: Traditional and Acryla. I use both, but we’ll be working with Acryla Gouache for our workshop. I’m excited to pass on some of what I experienced in Spain, mainly the ability to work at a relaxed loose pace while capturing the core features of the landscape.

Because gouache is all about grabbing at the essential I feel it’s well suited for both total beginners and experienced painters. Beginners build a foundation of learning to see the key areas amidst the noise, and experienced painters are encouraged by the nature of gouache to grant each mark a new kind of importance.

• All Supplies can be included when you sign up.

• Beginners are encouraged!

• Eight spots available for this workshop.

• Meet at 10:00 in the Laurel Parking Lot

• Please Pre-register!