GOUACHE :Art Lessons For Beginners – Art Instruction Blog

Spontaneous Painting – An Activity For The Whole Family…

Art does not always have to be created for the purpose of impressing others, or for making money, or for a competition in an art show. Art can be personal and therapeutic or simply a fun and enjoyable way to share your time with your friends and family. Sometimes I do not feel like thinking about a painting, or drawing any preliminary sketches or studies. Sometimes I just want to paint and get right into those deep rich colors and textures and just let my imagination run wild. I think as artists we need to do this sometimes and not spend so much time on the technical aspects of things.

The other day, my wife Pauline and I sat down and decided we would do just that. We went out to our local art store and bought some art supplies. We spent about 50 dollars. I was feeling rather adventurous that day and decided to steer away from my normal comfort zone of oil paints and decided to try something new.

I had been reading a few books and articles on mixed media work and thought I would give it a go. I picked up a box of Reeves assorted gouache paints, a box of 25 Cray Pas oil pastels, a set of 30 brushes for acrylics, watercolor and oils, a mixing dish, Master’s brush cleaner and preserver and a pad of Strathmore watercolor paper. I wanted paper with some texture or “tooth” for accepting different mediums.

I picked up a pad of acid free Strathmore 300 series paper. It is a heavy weight, cold pressed paper. According to the packaging, it is suited for watercolor experimentation and it accepts a variety of techniques. I felt it would do just fine for a mixed media work of gouache and oil pastels.