Thank you! I learned gouache painting years ago but haven't used it for a while. Looking for videos I was a bit shocked at how many artists that use gouache use way too much water. Excellent video.
What a fantastic and informative video! I have been struggling for months trying to replicate the style of gouache painting used by commercial book cover and movie poster artists of the 1950's-70's. I was just creating one bad painting after another and couldn't figure out why. There is so little information available on the techniques they used, your video is a great resource! And you were absolutely right! Too much water and too much white! Thank you!
This video came at exactly the right time for me. I was struggling to figure out what it is that I am doing wrong - now it makes sense. Thanks, I'm looking forward to more of your videos.
Thank you Malcolm! This seems like a perfect medium! Pigments stay vivid and strong while the painting dries quicker and nothing is running, lol. Water color scares me!😄
YEY! Best ever!! That's what I've been looking for! One question: I assume the paint dried between the first layer of those skies and the subsequent layers.
I would say dry, but we are talking about five to ten minutes. Dry enough to take a brushstroke without turning into a mud. It does dry very quickly which is good.
Thank you. That's exactly what I have spent days on RUclips looking for. You described the various consistencies of gouache very well... and when to use which consistencies. I am totally new to gouache. Thank you. !!!
It is between oils and acrylics as an opaque water based medium. I go into this on my blog in more detail. Use it from sketches to full fine art paintings.
This has been so concise and informative! I have not used gouache before, but I can imagine that too much water and too much white would be problematic. Is this acrylic gouache
Yes, keep the water to a minimum for easy, opaque coverage. No not acrylic gouache. I prefer to have the surface workable once dry especilley to work edges.
Hello Malcolm! Could you please tell me if gouache can be used as an underpaint under oil paints? Acrylic paints for sure, but are tempera and gouache? I am a bit mixed up :)) Best regards
I actually use gouache transparently for lay-ins and more transparent rendered surfaces. I always make sure to use those thin layers first and then switch to the thicker consistency. I started painting with watercolors first so it might just be a matter of preference.
Great information it’s really helpful for a beginner. I was wondering is it safe to wash gouache down the drain? I received some gouache for Christmas and it’s my first time using it. I’ve heard a couple painters say that acrylic paint can’t be washed down the drain. It is bad for your septic tank and the environment. Is it safe to wash gouache down the drain when you are cleaning a palette or pouring out paint water.Thanks.
Hi - I do believe it is safe as paints are made these days to be non-toxic and biodegrade. Not sure about septic tanks. Volumes are tiny and diluted in any event. Some people prefer to keep a bucket of sand outside and pour the liquid into that and let it dry away and degrade.
You mention having no hesitation about adding layers. I apologize if I missed any mention of it, but isn't cracking an issue with gouache if you go too thick?
Hello! Thanks for the super helpful video :) I'm super new to gouache (although I did spend maaaany hours reading about it on google!) and maybe you can solve this doubt for me: once you're done painting, all the gouache that it's in your palette... you can reactivate it through water, right? (since it's not acrylic gouache). How do you do it, though? I'm assuming for a such a thick amount of color you're gonna need quite some water to be able to wet it and make it all "soft" again to use it.. but then will it become transparent and not creamy like it should? or do you just "spray" water a couple times? ..I come from a year of self-taught watercolor, maybe I'm using the wrong mindset for this :) Thanks so much in advance for your time and these videos, they are really helpful!
Yes you can reactivate thick, dry gouache. Just use a little water, preferably sprayed on with an atomiser bottle. Let it soak, apply a little more spray and so on. Use a palette knife to break up the soft paint and gently work it into a paste again. Do not make it very wet like watercolor.
Hello Malcom, great video. I was wondering if you find these paints to be on the same level of quality as other artist grade brands like Windsor & Newton and such, and does it make a difference in the consistency and overall performance? I'm new to the medium. Thanks
I have not had this on the painting before. Cracking could be due to too much watery layers over wet layers. Basically not enough pigment and uneven drying time. Perhaps even poor quality paint.
Thank you! I learned gouache painting years ago but haven't used it for a while. Looking for videos I was a bit shocked at how many artists that use gouache use way too much water. Excellent video.
Thank you, I'm happy this helped you.
What a fantastic and informative video! I have been struggling for months trying to replicate the style of gouache painting used by commercial book cover and movie poster artists of the 1950's-70's. I was just creating one bad painting after another and couldn't figure out why. There is so little information available on the techniques they used, your video is a great resource! And you were absolutely right! Too much water and too much white! Thank you!
Thank you Patrick, glad you enjoyed it!
This video came at exactly the right time for me. I was struggling to figure out what it is that I am doing wrong - now it makes sense. Thanks, I'm looking forward to more of your videos.
Excellent. Thank you Liezel
Merci beaucoup🎨I'm beginner just today and your video is very hepful! Brigitte
Thank you 😊
Indeed helpful! Thank u sm
Thank you Malcolm! This seems like a perfect medium! Pigments stay vivid and strong while the painting dries quicker and nothing is running, lol. Water color scares me!😄
Agreed :)
YEY! Best ever!! That's what I've been looking for! One question: I assume the paint dried between the first layer of those skies and the subsequent layers.
I would say dry, but we are talking about five to ten minutes. Dry enough to take a brushstroke without turning into a mud. It does dry very quickly which is good.
Thank you so much
IT helped me a lot
Thank you Katja
Super helpful video! Coming from watercolor - I figured I thinned the paint too much and everything ends up very uneven and blotchy 😅 thanks for this!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! Right to the point, the answers I am looking for.
Thank you!
I look forward to trying this in the future. I really appreciate you videos on loose oil painting as well!
Thank you Gina
Thank you for this video. Very clear message.
You're very welcome
very good Instruction.
you are a gem thank you for think I appreciate it!
You're so welcome!
Very well explained and demonstrated. Thank you.
Thank you very much!
Thank you. That's exactly what I have spent days on RUclips looking for. You described the various consistencies of gouache very well... and when to use which consistencies. I am totally new to gouache. Thank you. !!!
Excellent, a new gouache demo coming soon too.
Excellent! good explanations, good demos!
Thanks so much Jay
Never having used gouache, can you tell me why I might choose this medium pleas? What are the advantages, what is it best for?
It is between oils and acrylics as an opaque water based medium. I go into this on my blog in more detail. Use it from sketches to full fine art paintings.
So clear and helpful, thank you!
Thanks so much For this video !!
Pleasure - thanks for watching Neerad
I use a wet papertowel under my gouache. It keeps it wet for longer
This has been so concise and informative! I have not used gouache before, but I can imagine that too much water and too much white would be problematic. Is this acrylic gouache
Yes, keep the water to a minimum for easy, opaque coverage. No not acrylic gouache. I prefer to have the surface workable once dry especilley to work edges.
Hello Malcolm! Could you please tell me if gouache can be used as an underpaint under oil paints? Acrylic paints for sure, but are tempera and gouache? I am a bit mixed up :)) Best regards
No I would not use any paint that can be re-activated by liquid.
I actually use gouache transparently for lay-ins and more transparent rendered surfaces. I always make sure to use those thin layers first and then switch to the thicker consistency. I started painting with watercolors first so it might just be a matter of preference.
Yes that is a good process too.
Great information it’s really helpful for a beginner. I was wondering is it safe to wash gouache down the drain?
I received some gouache for Christmas and it’s my first time using it. I’ve heard a couple painters say that acrylic paint can’t be washed down the drain. It is bad for your septic tank and the environment. Is it safe to wash gouache down the drain when you are cleaning a palette or pouring out paint water.Thanks.
Hi - I do believe it is safe as paints are made these days to be non-toxic and biodegrade. Not sure about septic tanks. Volumes are tiny and diluted in any event. Some people prefer to keep a bucket of sand outside and pour the liquid into that and let it dry away and degrade.
You mention having no hesitation about adding layers. I apologize if I missed any mention of it, but isn't cracking an issue with gouache if you go too thick?
Yes cracking can occur if the paint consistency is too thick. But if your consistency is right you can layer wet over dry quite quickly.
Hello! Thanks for the super helpful video :)
I'm super new to gouache (although I did spend maaaany hours reading about it on google!) and maybe you can solve this doubt for me: once you're done painting, all the gouache that it's in your palette... you can reactivate it through water, right? (since it's not acrylic gouache). How do you do it, though? I'm assuming for a such a thick amount of color you're gonna need quite some water to be able to wet it and make it all "soft" again to use it.. but then will it become transparent and not creamy like it should? or do you just "spray" water a couple times?
..I come from a year of self-taught watercolor, maybe I'm using the wrong mindset for this :)
Thanks so much in advance for your time and these videos, they are really helpful!
Yes you can reactivate thick, dry gouache. Just use a little water, preferably sprayed on with an atomiser bottle. Let it soak, apply a little more spray and so on. Use a palette knife to break up the soft paint and gently work it into a paste again. Do not make it very wet like watercolor.
Hello Malcom, great video. I was wondering if you find these paints to be on the same level of quality as other artist grade brands like Windsor & Newton and such, and does it make a difference in the consistency and overall performance? I'm new to the medium. Thanks
I use both and do not notice any real difference. However the color range is not as extensive as W&N. Especially more vibrant colours.
How do you stop gouache paint layer from cracking?
I have not had this on the painting before. Cracking could be due to too much watery layers over wet layers. Basically not enough pigment and uneven drying time. Perhaps even poor quality paint.
@@MalcolmDewey thanks. Could be due to too many layers. I was copying a Russian master's work...so had many layers and thick white paint.
@@KaustavMukherjeeFineArt Yes that is likely.