Gouache painting demo of a Parrot

[PinkMegaFloyd007]

I have Gouache water colors, and I'm still learning how to use them, so this really helped a lot.

[mlesaqt2]

I was wondering what kind of paper you used here...what weight and hot press or cold? Thanks!

[bsladden97]

Amazing!

[kota3214]

JEASLOUS. thats was so good, they looked like.. exactly the same!!!!!!!!!!!

[MANSONVAMPIRO]

beautiful, great work

[Kerokittycat]

I'm currently learning Gouache at school and I can't even do a sphere..!

[vcccjvcjvvv]

you barely even notice the difference between the two in the end thats class

[andreyoshit]

Awesome!!! :D

[maxwestcomics]

Nice! I use gouache paint too though usually in watercolor mode (in other words, really diluted). What brand do you use?  My choice is Holbein.

[pictureperfectpeople]

By the end I was having trouble keeping track of which one was the painting and which on was the photo. It felt like i was playing that game where you have to concentrate and keep your eye on the cup with the little ball under it. Great job.

[barbarajdaley]

Thanks, that was delightful!

[xxxxKairixxxx]

I hear gouache is like watercolor, but more opaque. From the video, it looks a lot more like acrylic to me. Is there a huge difference when using gouache versus acrylic?

[JoMA505]

@xxxxKairixxxx Gouache is basically an opaque and heavier/thicker watercolor. There are similar things you might be able to do in both medium but there is a huge difference between acrylic and gouache. One major difference is that gouache can be dissolved and reactivated after drying. Also, unlike acrylic, thick layers with gouache is not recommended. Gouache will usually crack when thickly applied. I know this is a quick summary but I hope it helps.

[FDameion]

very impressive.. i'm just starting to learn how to use this and even as fast as this video is, it was really helpful

i think if you had them framed so i couldn't see the rough edges left from the painting.. i honestly wouldn't of known which was which

[vinceraptor]

Very well done! I am in college learning Illustration and our teacher is having us do Gouache in black and white and i must admit that oil painting is a lot easier for me. Especially when we have to work on an 14 x 20 cold press white board.

If I may give a suggestion... Edit your video where it fades to black and music fades as well at the end with credits. Its better than having it suddenly stop. other than that thanks for sharing your work with us :)

[smick3]

awesome ! thanks

[davevanfunk]

This is really instructive. I noticed that your surface didn't curl. What are you painting on? Would Bristol Vellum or heavy duty watercolor paper work? 

[senikle]

dude - frickin' awesome. you pee more talent than most have.

[bluedog1357]

HOLY SHIETTT!!!

[zestron]

I can't figure out how to use paint most efficiently for mixing :S

[darkAngelLuna]

thats freaken awesome! :D

[Sar89Bear]

Awesome!

[NO1CRAZY]

Um , what kind of sheet papers do you use ?

[jmikalsa]

@NO1CRAZY For this painting I used the Utrecht American Master's Printmaking & Drawing Paper. It has a nice weight and it is quite durable.

[RinzRingtail]

You seem to have no problem painting one color over another! I have a problem that my underlying color streaks through the upper layer when I work in gouache. How do you get around this? (I'm using Winsor-Newton's desinger gouache btw, if you're familiar with this brand)

[JoMA505]

@RinzRingtail

I usually factor in the streaking factor and the thickness of the paint. In some occasions instead of painting over with another thick layer I use watered down gouache and blend/dissolve in to the layer. If the paint is the right consistency it is also possible to blend out the streak with a moist brush. My choice of brand is Winsor-Newton's designer as well. I enjoy their viscosity and its flexibility compared to some of the other brands. I hope this helps

[Cruelhazard]

Hello, I'm interested in gouache and poster color paints. I'm trying to achieve a warm look akin to Kazuo Oga's landscape work (search him on google images for the idea).

However, I have heard that gouache and poster color paint dries very easily and ends up flaking the picture after time (because it's low quality paint?). Is this true?

[JoMA505]

@Cruelhazard

I'm not familiar with poster paint but I suspect they are low grade tempra paint. Gouache is a quality paint with high level of pigment. They are basically opaque watercolors. Because of its high level of pigment gouache leaves little room for the binder. Thick layers can cause it to crack. Also when applied in layers the bottom layer can absorb the binder from the wet top layer causing the paint to crack. To avoid cracks you can use it like watercolor or paint on top of watercolor

[JoMA505]

@JoMA505

Apparently Oga uses poster colour paint from Korea and most Japanese anime artist use poster paint as well. Oga's says that they don't use expensive paint since they paint many paintings and need to use cheaper paint. He also says the poster colour paint is easy to use. All of this do make a great deal of sense since the paintings are not meant to be archival for museums but meant to be use for the big screen.

[Cruelhazard]

@JoMA505

Thanks for the information; I found that interview shortly after posting the comment too. Is gouache a better alternative for getting that same 'warm, nostalgic feeling' from the colors but also for archival?

[JoMA505]

@Cruelhazard

I think it is certainly possible to attain the "warm, nostalgic feeling" with gouache. The advantage of using gouache is that there is a wide range of colors. Most companies who sell gouache also label their paint with its level of permanence and transparency. Most cheaper paints are not concerned with permanence so basically the only way to find out its archival quality is by testing them out.

[JoMA505]

@Cruelhazard

I think it is certainly possible to attain the "warm, nostalgic feeling" with gouache. The advantage of using gouache is that there is a wide range of colors. Most companies who sell gouache also label their paint with its level of permanence and transparency. Most cheaper paints are not concerned with permanence so basically the only way to find out its archival quality is by testing them out.

[JoMA505]

@Cruelhazard

I think it is certainly possible to attain the "warm, nostalgic feeling" with gouache. The advantage of using gouache is that there is a wide range of colors. Most companies who sell gouache also label their paint with its level of permanence and transparency. Most cheaper paints are not concerned with permanence so basically the only way to find out its archival quality is by testing them out.

[JoMA505]

@Cruelhazard I think it is certainly possible to attain the "warm, nostalgic feeling" with gouache. The advantage of using gouache is that there is a wide range of colors. Most companies who sell gouache also label their paint with its level of permanence and transparency. Most cheaper paints are not concerned with permanence so basically the only way to find out its archival quality is by testing them out.

[JoMA505]

@Cruelhazard

I think it is certainly possible to attain the "warm, nostalgic feeling" with gouache. The advantage of using gouache is that there is a wide range of colors. Most companies who sell gouache also label their paint with its level of permanence and transparency. Most cheaper paints are not concerned with permanence so basically the only way to find out its archival quality is by testing them out.

[lastinlineband1]

Nice. It's important to use a photo reference. 

[Danny011189]

hey dude great video ive got a question though do the colours you mixed in your pallette not dry out really quickly? thats the hurdle im stuck at so far i try to paint but the colours dry quicker than i can apply them totally, any tips? also really enjoyed the detail shots of the beak, very informative thankyou!

[JoMA505]

@Danny011189

Sorry for the late reply. I had a busy few weeks here. In any case, yes, the color tends to dry quickly. My solution is to keep a water spray bottle handy. Every few minutes I give the paint a little mist. Hope this helps.

[Danny011189]

@JoMA505 genius thanks!

[jrrochar]

Hello,

I mostly work in oil and acrylic. I have been wanting to try out gouache paints. what do you recommend for pallette colors? like the primaries such as yellows reds and blues? I want to invest in some tubes but not sure what colors would be best, gladly appreciate any advise you can give me.

[JoMA505]

@jrrochar I think your palette all depends on your subject or style. For example, you might want to use different colors for a landscape compared to a portrait. That said, I would recommend the following colors for starters. Titanium white, Primary Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Primary Red, burnt sienna, Burnt umber, Ultramarine blue, Permanent green middle, Ivory black, You can add a wider range and buy more expensive pigments as you get use to painting with gouache. hope this helps.

[skipperooney]

Really nice job! I like yours better than the original!

[cinnamonroll7]

This video was really helpful, by the way. I am 16, and a struggling artist. I got this new Marie's Gouache set from a family friend, and I haven't used it yet. Honestly, I'm a bit scared to use it. Haha. But I'm also thrilled to finally open it.

Thank you so much for this demonstration. :)

[JoMA505]

@cinnamonroll7 I'm glad the video was helpful. I hope you are enjoying the Gouache set. I know it can be intimidating at first but I'm sure you will enjoy painting. As I tell all of my students, practice make better and always trust in your self and your creative instincts. Happy painting!!

[cinnamonroll7]

What brush set do you use? I'm not at all sure, but I think yours is the same as mine. I'm from the Philippines, you see, and my mom got me this brush set during her stay in the States, so I'm not familiar with the brand. Besides, the brand isn't written anywhere on the brushes. :( But each brush has a number written on it. I don't know what the numbers imply, though.

[JoMA505]

@cinnamonroll7 The brushes I am using in the video are from a brand called Dynasty. They are synthetic brushes and work pretty well for watercolor, gouache and acrylic. The numbers on the brushes indicate the size of the brush. As the numbers get higher the brush width becomes wider. hope this is helpful.

[IcantThinkOfAname9]

how come mine always cracks when it dries

[JoMA505]

Sorry for the late reply. I suspect that you are using the gouache straight out of the tube. I recommend watering down the paint a little before applying it to your painting. Gouache paint has a high level of pigment leaving little room for the binder. Thick layers can cause it to crack. Also when applied in layers the bottom layer can absorb the binder from the wet top layer causing it to crack.

[mollymu1]

@JoMA505 Anyone know of a good book on Gouache painting ?

I took lessons in oil for a year and want to switch over to gouache .

Thanks

[JoMA505]

@mollymu1 I think you will be able to make a smooth transition to gouache from oil. I personally don't know of any specific book that I can recommend for gouache painting but I'm sure they are a few out there. I think a good place to start is at borders and barns and noble. They usually carry a number of painting technique books and they can be helpful. Hope this helps

[theronl2]

How do you get the colors to be transparent? Do you use more water?

[JoMA505]

Sorry for the late reply. Depending on the pigment some colors are more transparent then others. I usually just add more water to make the gouache transparent.

[yooDOwe]

Wow. You're great with controlling the paint and making it look extremely easy. Nice.

[zackck]

Great video, very useful! :o)

[tipsypeach]

m learning how to use gouache for a school project and your demo was very useful

what brand of gouache do you use? ive used some cheap brands before but they dont give me the opacity i want

[JoMA505]

Thank you for your comment. I'm glad to hear that my post was helpful. Currently I use Winsor & Newton Designer Gouache and Holbein Artist Gouache. In my opinion these brands give a bit more opacity then their counterparts. Depending on the properties of the pigments some colors are also less opaque then others. You can add a bit of white to the transparent colors to give it some opacity. The only drawback is that the color will loose some of its original brilliance. I hope this helps. Cheers!