Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Streetcorner Sketching in Watercolor and Gouache

Hooley on the Hudson 2018, watercolor and gouache
(Link to YouTube video) Here are some technique tips for street sketching:
1. Capturing the silhouette of a figure in watercolor.
2. Using gouache to cover up a false start.
3. Painting soft smoke over gouache.

4 comments:

A Colonel of Truth said...

Again proof that rarely is a piece of paper not salvagable. Nice work, as ever.

Ted B. said...

I've recently read some horribly-rigid definitions for "watercolor" at some recent shows and competitions. Some go as far as to say if even just the signature is in ink it's not "watercolor" ...but "mixed-media" and excluded. This strikes me as pompous and ridiculous. Many of the past masters of watercolor intermixed transparent watercolor and gouache-like opaque watercolors. Prrsonally I find the initial use of broad transparent washes and then gouache or casein for the details appealing, especially for plein air painting. But I'm now concerned about compromising my work for future presentation, display, or Gods Fortend eventual sale.

As an established artist, where do you stand?

biffographics@earthlink.net said...

You need to be more famous! You are underestimated!!! Big fan!!!

James Gurney said...

Unknown, Well, if you want to succeed in competitive exhibitions, you should follow their rules. I don't enter many such exhibitions because I think there are more effective ways to get my work seen. I also don't spend much time worrying about how other people define "watercolor." Many early 19th century English watercolourists were quite strict about not using white, and that's OK. There is an undeniable beauty to paintings made purely with transparent watercolor. But you're right that many previous masters like Zorn, Menzel, Moran and Sargent were very experimental about mixing water media. Trying out new ways to combine water-based media is a healthy idea in my opinion, as long as it achieves the results you want and is valid from the point of view of archival conservation.