Monday, January 31, 2022

Gouache Painting in Sub-Freezing Weather


Here are two tips for painting in gouache in sub-freezing temperatures (10° F, -12° C):
1. Put a chemical hand warmer under the metal palette to keep squeezed paint alive.
2. Instead of water in the cup, use vodka (80 proof/40% ethyl alcohol) OR water + isopropyl alcohol (50/50). Either one will keep your washes from freezing.
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Coming in a week or two: an extensive YouTube video and even more complete Gumroad tutorial on "5 Problems with Gouache...and How to Solve Them," with tips for storing the paint, managing layers, how to safely glaze, dealing with value shifts, when and how to varnish, how to paint a reactivation test, plus some of your questions and comments...and a close look at Hudson River ice yachts.