3 ways to LEVEL UP your GOUACHE GAME + cozy gouache illustration process

[@ChaosOrZen]

Presoaking watercolor paper is so old-school. I was taught to do that in the 70s to remove the sizing, which was considered a barrier to allowing the paint to marry the paper. Paint sits on top of the paper. Good to see it come back.

[@allisonaletha]

It’s such a great hack!! It’s made my painting process SO much easier 💛

[@melsgalleria]

I will say that even soaking cheap watercolor paper like canson xl for 10 minutes actually makes it more usable. It is the WORST one I have used when it comes to paint sitting on the paper. I learned this recently when I was going to make some watercolor projects for Christmas cards and gift tags. I didn't want to use my arches for these as some will probably be thrown away. Soaking the paper really made it usable. It doesn't beat 100% cotton, but at least it makes a decent painting and is far nicer to work with.

[@tribalstyle138]

Y'all are legit soaking and not stretching? I must try this. Stretching is tedious but I've always wondered if soaking alone would work. Will try.

[@melsgalleria]

@@tribalstyle138 When I was soaking the cheap paper, I just soaked it and let it dry. It was a little wonky when it dried. Though I decided to speed dry mine in my dehydrator for that project lol. However, I can just mist the back of the paper and iron it later to straighten those. I haven't tried soaking the paper and keeping it wet for work yet though.

[@M.ElizabethCC11]

It's a tecnique..not a fashion

[@creativewah]

Great tips! I’m going to try soaking my paper. Wonderful illustration! Thank you for sharing! 💛💛💛

[@allisonaletha]

Thank you so much!! I hope it works for you!! 💛

[@artofhannahyoung]

The lighting, your knowledge, your visual storytelling, the perspective, the details, your INSANE TALENT!!!!! I wanna be you when I grow up❤❤❤❤

[@allisonaletha]

THANK YOUUUU!!! I wanna be YOU when I grow up!! Love you so, so much 🥰💛

[@melsgalleria]

I recently learned about soaking cheaper watercolor papers to make them more usable with watercolor. Like Canson xl watercolor paper, the paint and water just sit on the surface. I didn't want to use my expensive 100% cotton paper for the projects I was working on since odds are people would probably end up throwing them away anyways. Well someone suggested that there was too much sizing in the cheaper paper. So they said to soak it in luke warm water about 10 minutes. I have to say that was a game changer. After soaking cheap canson xl watercolor paper for 10 minutes and letting it dry, it actually takes the color into the paper more instead of just floating on the surface. Arches and bee paper are still far better, but it makes it at least more usable than before. I have never heard of keeping the paper wet for gouache till now though. I think this will make me really enjoy gouache more. I love how it looks and feels. I love that it is water based so I don't have to worry about using oils and chemicals around my kitties. However, I hadn't quite figured out how to work with it in a way I enjoy. I think this will be a game changer as well....Also, I have realized over the years that if you want to have an enjoyable experience with art, the one thing you should NEVER skimp on is paper. The paper can make or break the entire process for you. Now there are some supplies that are more enjoyable to use than others, but at the same time paper is the key. I will say the wet paper towels underneath is a great idea, and I will be trying this out when I get back to gouache painting again soon.

[@allisonaletha]

Yessss paper is SO CRUCIAL! It’s the make it or break it supply in my opinion. 😅 I’ll have to try out this hack on cheaper brands too!

[@melsgalleria]

@@allisonaletha When I first tried watercolors I used cheap paper, and none of the techniques would work right for me. I thought it was just my "paints" so I got nicer and nicer paints, and still didn't work. So I stopped using them for years. I recently dusted them off and tried the expensive paper I had been hording and wow what a difference. I had also struggled with gouache in the past and I am thinking it is for the same reason. Just using the wrong paper. I really am loving arches and the small amount of bee paper I still had. When I first tried them I hated the texture of the arches, but now I am loving it. So I know where any Christmas money is going if I have any lol. Also I can't wait to hear how trying that with cheaper paper works for you.

[@FPdesignfab]

Nice work. I'm just getting started in Gouache. Thx for tips. I watched the whole video.

[@allisonaletha]

Thank you so much for watching!! Best of luck to you in starting your gouache journey! 😊

[@Граф_Мрякула]

Take a pinch of agar-agar and add it to the water that you moisten the paper with. It'll take a few hours to dry

[@stinahristova5005]

😮 I didn't know about this trick. Thanks.

[@Remy2121]

8:08 i had his book open right when you said that 😂😂

[@allisonaletha]

@@Remy2121 bahaha his paintings are STUNNING!! 😍💛

[@grace_evans.]

Your videos make me feel like I could paint anything, thank you Allie ☺️❤️

[@allisonaletha]

Ohhhh that makes me so happy!! You CAN paint anything!! 💛💛💛

[@grace_evans.]

@@allisonalethathank you 🥰

[@rxneg]

I learned so much during this video! Thank you. This illustration is beautiful, so cozy! ❤

[@allisonaletha]

Yayyy, I’m so glad it was helpful for you!! 🥰

[@roselleart]

So Beautiful Artwork! I feel so cozy and joyful to watch your video💝💖💝💕

[@allisonaletha]

Thank you so, so much!! 🥰

[@shannonschubert7291]

Love watching and listening to you.

[@allisonaletha]

Aww thank you so, so much!! 💛

[@leanordicsun]

Just stumbled upon your videos and wow, you are very talented! I really love your drawing skills, style and colourful palett with lots of warm and deep cosy tones (not neon bright in your face, but both sunny light and saturated). Also some very good tips on how to paint with gouache. I am also a huge fan of Ghibli and you use the inspiration in a nice way. I also like how you show and talk about art work and life, calm joyful and serious. No ”three easy fix to earn a ton of money in two days”, thank you for way better content than that! Ha ha, in other words, you made me a bit happier today! I used to draw and are struggling to find peace of mind and a way back to do it again without too high demands on myself. Just for the joy of doing something creative with my life, not as ”work”… Good luck, I wish you a happy new year. Subscribed 😊

[@allisonaletha]

Thank you so, so much!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my art! Best of luck to you in dipping back into drawing. 💛🥰

[@miraxterrik]

I use gouache in my sketchbook, so I guess there goes the pre-soaking 😂

[@allisonaletha]

You can still do a *bit* of soaking! I like to use a brush to wet both sides (or just the side I’m painting on if the other side already has artwork on it.) If the other side doesn’t (for example if you’re painting on the right page and there’s no artwork underneath) you could also lay down a wet paper towel under it. It’s not quite as effective as fully soaking the paper, but it’s still quite helpful! 💛

[@miraxterrik]

@allisonaletha thanks, i might try it just to see the difference.

[@Bless7789]

Your videos make me happy. I just watch them for comfort 💛

[@allisonaletha]

Ohhh thank you!! 🥰💛

[@artbylizzie1579]

I have never tried soaking my paper, might give it a go next time though! Love the illustration, give me some of those pancakes!! ❤

[@allisonaletha]

It’s a super helpful hack!! You’d be welcome in Bea’s Bed and Breakfast for pancakes anytime 🥰

[@gabbywilliamson76]

I’ve never seen anyone wet the paper with gouache. I need to try that.

[@gabbywilliamson76]

It’s beautiful! I hope you are putting these illustrations into a book.

[@allisonaletha]

Ahhh thank you!! I would absolutely LOVE to make an art book someday 🥰

[@oneinathousand2156]

I get what you mean with yellow, I’ve finally tracked down a nice warm yellow and I can’t wait to use it to tint the paper of all my watercolor pieces 😂

[@allisonaletha]

Ahhh so glad you found one you like!! Warm yellows for the win 💛

[@akitoakito8790]

❤

[@hashiyaazha8728]

This was such an amazing video🥺🥺 With soo many helpful tips💫💫 Always a fan of your art style and ofcourse your detailed videos💕💕 Thank you for making these videos, it's soo helpful for beginners like me🤗❤️ Lot's of love💕💕

[@allisonaletha]

Yayyy, so glad it was helpful for you!! 💛

[@hanaaewas6809]

I like your bear to much good work 👍🥰👍🥰✨✨✨

[@allisonaletha]

Awee thank you so, so much!! 🥰

[@bobbiegraham7729]

Great video, but need some clarification. If you don't paint in one sitting, how do you re-wet your dried painting? Have been looking at Nikker, do you find it flows better than pro gouache?

[@allisonaletha]

Great question!! I rewet the underside of the paper and lay a wet towel underneath it. Within a few minutes, the moisture starts to come back towards the surface. It won’t be as wet as when I’ve first soaked the paper, but it’s usually enough to get things going again. 😊 I LOVE Nicker poster colors! It terms of flow, I’d say it’s about the same as gouache. I never notice a difference in usability. However I do notice myself being more generous with my color mixing as Nicker poster colors are cheaper than W&N gouache!

[@AmazinGraceXOXO1]

Allison can I ask a dumb question? When you start a painting, what colors gouache do you start out with on your palette? I know it probably depends on the mood of the painting and as you go on you re probably just mixing colors, but are there any particular colors that you always start out with?

[@allisonaletha]

Not a dumb question at all!! Like you said, sometimes it depends on the mood and the scene itself, but overall I truly love to keep my palette simple. It keeps my palette more harmonious and tests my color mixing skills! My favorite palette consists of black, white, cool yellow (like primary yellow or lemon yellow), warm yellow (like golden yellow or permanent yellow deep), cool red (like primary or carmine), warm red (like spectrum or scarlet), cool blue (like primary or French), and warm blue (like ultramarine or cobalt). More often than not, I won’t have all of these out while I’m working. I typically pick some variation of the three primary colors (cool red, warm yellow, and warm blue is a big favorite of mine!) On occasion I’ll add something like yellow ochre or a particular shade of green to my palette as well, but for the most part I love sticking with the primaries! For this particular painting I also used French Grey which is such a lovely, light bluish grey with just a touch of purple that I can’t seem to mix on my own. 😅

[@AmazinGraceXOXO1]

@ thank you so much for answering!!!

[@mudrarakshasa]

I got nicker poster colors a year back..but was intimidated by it .n my work is only that's hung on the wall.. n nicker doens't say much about light-fastness ..as it's not really meant for tht.. so I m sticking to my light-fast holbein n Winsor and Newton.. but I shud give my nicker a try again

[@allisonaletha]

There are a few charts about the lightfast quality of Nicker Poster Colors, and many of them are lightfast enough for gallery work/commissions/etc. 😊 But Winsor and Newton is always a go-to as well 💛

[@suziewoo2820]

I will soak my paper and Governors it a try

[@allisonaletha]

It’s so helpful!!

[@stillwaters6104]

Informative video.The mouse voice kept throwing me off though.