Gouache: The Perfect Sketch Medium

Taught by CFA Faculty member, John Wellington. John has often referred to his favorite color sketch medium as "watercolor for those artists that make mistakes". Gouache, unlike watercolor, allows for buildup of white and light colors with the ability to work on colored and toned papers. In this way, the application process is similar to oil paint, but with a much less toxic medium. This six week class will focus on working from the model online, painting both quick and longer poses each week, along with demos and a weekly sharing of our work. There will be full review of materials on week one.

Working in gouache offers artists a great opportunity to work quickly in color, correct and adjust drawing, value and color, in an easy to use medium.

Supply List

• Gouache colors:
• Turner, W&N, and Holbein (among others) make well-made gouache paints in tubes.
• The following colors are suggested only as a starter guide and may be added to liberally. With gouache, there is no such thing as too many colors! ... Especially when it comes to greens, blues and reds!

• Ivory Black
• White
• Raw Sienna
• Burnt Sienna
• Burnt Umber
• Yellow Ochre
• Red Ochre
• Cadmium Red
• Alizarin Crimson
• Cadmium Yellow
• Cadmium Green
• Ultramarine Blue
• Plastic palette for gouache or watercolor such as the large size Blick Folding Palette Box https://www.dickblick.com/items/03001-0010/
• Brushes:
• Well made watercolor brushes are perfect for painting in gouache. Kolinski Sable are the highest quality brushes, but there are many less expensive synthetic watercolor brushes available as well. Most of my brushes are “rounds” rather than “flats,” sizes 6 and smaller for most areas. However, as with all brushes, the correct one is the one that does the job you need done. 
• Heavy weight paper or cardboard stock to paint on. The instructor often paints on colored paper as an advantage of working with gouache is that one can work the lights as well as the darks. All watercolor blocks and papers are also perfect for the medium.
• Water cup to clean brushes and thin out paint.
• Paper towels