Gouache is a fun and easy to use water based medium that dries quickly to a beautiful matte finish. It is an opaque version of watercolor. Unlike transparent watercolor, gouache allows for painting light colors over dark, providing greater freedom in how a painting is created.
The class will include instruction in choosing a composition, transferring photographic reference to your paper, paint handling & consistency, painting gouache in layers, and techniques for suggesting foliage and other textures. Students will also learn how to mix a wide range of colors from a simple palette.
The class will include demonstrations by the instructor and individual instruction based on each student’s level of experience.
Materials list:
- Gouache paint (Winsor and Newton or Holbein are a couple of good brands). Not “HIMI” or “jelly” gouache, and not “acrylic gouache” (“Acryla” or “Acryl”), which is actually acrylic paint.
- Ultramarine Blue
- Cadmium Yellow Light or Pale
- Winsor Red or Pure Red (Pyrrole Red)
- Burnt Sienna
- Permanent White
- short handle brushes suitable for acrylic or mixed media, ½” and ¼” flat wash, (ideally 2 of each for light and dark colors), #4 or #6 round,
- watercolor palette with a generous mixing area (or a “Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette”)
- watercolor or mixed media paper, 140lb (300gsm) or better in weight, hot or cold press, 8×10” or 9×12″ or similar.
- water container for brush cleaning.
- mister spray bottle for keeping paint in palette wet
- pencil and eraser for sketching out the composition.
- Reference photographs will be provided, though students are welcome to bring their own.
Presented by the Delaware Art Museum
10 three hour sessions. Tuesdays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, January 14 to march 18, 2025
($305 per person, $280 for Delaware Art Museum members
Location: Education Wing, Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19086. The Education Wing is a separate building, past the entrance to the museum when walking from the parking lot.
