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Gouache painting by Kiara Maharaj

Gouache Painting for Beginners

Art supplies you will need:

    • Watercolor paper from sketchbook (200gsm)
  • Gouache Paint (Dala)
  • Aquarelle watercolour brushes
  • White gelly roll pen

 

Step 1: Tape the area on the watercolour paper which you are not going to use.

Step 2: Mix colours for background on your painting palette.

  • Black
  • Pthalo Blue
  • Prussian Blue
  • White
  • Make sure to mix the pigment with water for easier application

Step 3: Painting the background.

  • Use a big brush to paint the darkest part of the sky with black paint
  • Gradually add more blue to the mixture for a sunset gradient
  • Clean the brush with water and dry it before painting the light colours
  • Mix blue with white for the lighter part of the gradient
  • If you make a mistake, just take a tissue and lightly dab over the mistake. This will soak up the water so you can paint on the surface again.
  • Let the paint dry for at least 5 minutes

Step 4: Painting the middle ground.

  • Mix a blue-grey colour for the mountains in the foreground
  • Use a medium-sized brush to paint triangular shapes for the mountain peaks
  • Let the paint dry for 5 minutes
  • Mix a lighter purple (blue + red + white) for another layer of mountains
  • Feel free to test your colours on another sheet of paper
  • Let the paint dry for 5 minutes
  • Mix more white into the purple you have for the highlights on the mountains
  • Using a sharp-tipped brush, paint the highlights on one side of the mountain. Imagine where the light would fall.
  • Let the paint dry thoroughly

Step 5: Painting the foreground.

  • Use dark blue to start painting the trees in the foreground
  • The trees are at a distance, so it doesn’t have to be too detailed. Paint in an upward gesture, and add a few dots for the appearance of leaves.
  • Make sure to add variation.
  • While waiting for the paint to dry, dip your brush in some white paint and add some clouds behind the mountain.
  • Now mix dark purple (blue+red+black) for another layer of trees
  • Use the same shapes as the first layer, and add variance in the trees.
  • These trees are closer to the viewer than in the previous layer, so add more detailed branches and leaves.
  • Let the paint dry.
  • Mix a vibrant purple (more red + some blue) for another layer of trees
  • Paint another layer using the same technique
  • Let the paint dry
  • Now mix a light purple (red+blue+white) for another layer of trees
  • Add detailed branches and strands of grass.
  • Let the paint dry thoroughly.
  • Now, with pure black, paint the foremost layer of trees.
  • These trees are the most detailed than the others since they are the closest to the viewer
  • Let the paint dry.

Step 6: Stars.

  • You will need two brushes: one dipped in white paint and the other to hit the first brush with.
  • Make sure one brush is fully loaded with paint.
  • Cross the brushes over each other, and use the top brush to hit against the bottom one. Paint will splash on the painting, making it look like stars in the night sky.
  • Use white paint to add a moon behind the central mountain.
  • Using the white gelly roll pen, you can add more detailed highlights to the sky and stars.
  • Let the paint dry thoroughly.

Step 7: Rounding up.

  • Remove the tap carefully and
  • Admire your work!
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