I Tried Gouache Painting and It Was a Total Disaster
Watercolors Is Easier To Use Than Gouache - For Me
Whats up!
Spring is finally here! Has it arrived where you live yet?
Between Christmas and New Year’s, I treated myself to a shiny new set of HIMI Gouache paint, 48 colors. Not too few, not too many, and no pointless metallics. Just right. They arrived after New Year’s, and I was pumped to dive in.
My first attempt? Absolute trash. The brushes I used were terrible. They barely held any water and dried up faster than my enthusiasm. Not a great start. But hey, I’m stubborn. So, I tried again. And again. And again.
The problem? Either I had so much paint on the brush it looked like I was trying to sculpt with it, or I had so little it just... fizzled out. Zero buildup. Zero satisfaction.
The brushes were part of the problem, obviously. They were cheap and useless. Even watercolors hated them, and that’s saying something. So, I bought a new set, Winsor & Newton Cotman. And wow, actually usable brushes are game-changers. Who knew? 🤪
But even with good brushes, I kept fumbling. Still, I refused to give up. So, I decided to use gouache for the Plein Airpril challenge, painting landscapes and outdoor scenes. Well, I managed to do exactly two paintings before throwing in the towel.
Challenges and I have a rocky relationship. I get super motivated and obsessed before they even start. This time, I actually began when the hype hit. But daily art? Nah. The excitement drains away fast. And those two paintings? Not even on consecutive days.
It hit me pretty quickly, gouache just isn’t for me. Watercolors? They just feel right, like slipping into a cozy old hoodie. Gouache feels like wrestling with a snippy cat.
But why did I even try gouache in the first place? Simple: YouTube and Studio Ghibli. Watching talented artists create jaw-dropping scenes with gouache had me inspired. And Studio Ghibli’s art? Always a vibe.
Sure, those YouTubers have been painting way longer than me. I know I’m not on their level. But that’s not even the point. The problem is, I can’t make gouache work for me. It’s either too much or too little. Never that satisfying, sweet spot.
At one point, I thought, Hey, why not use gouache for backgrounds and details in watercolor pieces? So, I tried it. I painted a blue snake (no idea what species, just blue and cool-looking. Its from a recent ref pack from Satine) and slapped some gouache on the background to make it pop.
Guess what? It flopped. Even the white gouache I tried using for details was a joke. Acrylic markers do the job way better. And I just bought a white gelly pen, which will probably outshine gouache in every way.
All in all, I think I’m done with gouache. At least for now. I’m glad I didn’t splurge on some fancy set. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll find a course that actually teaches me to handle the stuff. Because YouTube sure wasn’t it. Or I could not find the right one.
And about that Plein Airpril journey? I think I’ll go digital for now. More control, less frustration, and I don’t have to worry about chunky, dried-out paint ruining my vibe.
What about you? Are you doing Plein Airpril or are you waiting for Mermay? 😁
🌿 New Artworks
To be honest with you all, I have been a bit creative lately. Why? Well I topped filming everything haha. Taking a little break from Youtube and just focus on my art, my writing and Podcast.
❗️ I also shut down my INPRNT store. I don't want you to have bad experience like I have with them. Good thing no one has ever bought a print from me. Win win. ❗️
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