Painting Atmospheric Landscapes with Gouache

Painting Atmospheric Landscapes with Gouache

“Congratulations on reaching the end of this course! I want to thank you for your participation and engagement―I'm so glad that you took the time to learn something new. It's not something to take for granted, ever! Before we say goodbye now, let's once more time go over the key points from the course that you should keep in mind as you complete your final project. Gouache's quirky ways, such as its quick drying time and the fact that it can be reactivated with water, can sometimes go hand in hand with a little frustration when you first start using it. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore the basic handling techniques we covered in the second unit. The more you learn to work with the qualities of the paint, the quicker you’ll be able to use them to your advantage. Time spent on the basics of layering, finding the right consistency, and blending will serve you well as you navigate through painting landscapes. Knowing how to find the consistency that works best for the effect you want to paint and being able to confidently layer your paint will open up a whole new range of possibilities. There's so many different types of landscape elements that we can use in our paintings―we looked at how to paint some of the most common ones in the second unit. There’s something so satisfying about combining these simple techniques in ways that allow us to create beautiful artwork while at the same time practicing essential skills. Silhouettes offer us a way to paint focusing only on complex details, without worrying too much about colour or form. If ever you’re not sure of where to begin with a painting, you won't go wrong with painting the silhouettes of the individual shapes.

Adopt an attitude of curiosity when it comes to painting different elements, and if you find yourself reluctant to try something for fear of getting it wrong, challenge yourself to a page of tiny texture studies like the ones from the fifth unit. These small studies are much less intimidating than a larger area, and we can try out lots of different ways to paint the same basic element. This is my secret weapon when it comes to improving skills but still filling a page that is beautiful to look at. In the third unit, we looked at how to include some personality and magic to inspire your work. I encourage you to spend some time on this to really explore what you find enchanting. These choices will give your work its own particular flavor, and allow each painting to feel like its own story, its own adventure. We can use gouache's opacity to build complex scenes in layers, but in order to get the best results, we should always have a plan for these layers. The first few times you use this technique, it’s really helpful to create a fully fleshed-out plan that includes the colours you’ll be using along with little sketches and notes for each layer. This plan will be the compass that guides you through your painting and means you don't have to try and remember all the little details for each layer as you work. But remember: This method is in no way meant to restrict your creativity. It is designed to offer gentle support when you feel like you don't know where to start―it is supposed to help you find ways to make a painting reflect your sense of magic and adventure. As you work through the course, I encourage you to share your work in the forum and chat with your fellow students. See how others are adding magic to their gouache landscapes and offer encouragement and support to your fellow gouache buddies! You can upload your final project by clicking on the button "Create your project". If you're not sure what to include, check out the guide from the previous unit. I will be checking in on the work you upload to cheer you on! Happy painting!”

Partial transcription of the video

“Congratulations, you've reached the end of the course. I hope you've enjoyed learning how to add a little magic to your gouache landscapes and that you're feeling inspired to start your project. I want this project to reflect your magic. I want to see your personality and your sense of adventure come through in the landscapes you paint. Find an image that inspires you, and if needed, another image that captures mood and colors that you desire. Take some time to consider the layers that you'll need to build this scene. Try not to create something that's too complicated. Ideally, you'll want ...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.

Course summary for: Painting Atmospheric Landscapes with Gouache

• Level: Beginner
• 99% positive reviews (429)
• 11989 students
• 5 units
• 22 lessons (4h 20m)
• 19 downloads

• Category

  Illustration

• Areas

  Gouache Painting, Painting, Traditional illustration