landscapes with gouache 🌱 tips for depth and layering

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/sofiapavanmacias06235
Getting back to painting some landscape studies in my sketchbook, in this video I'm sharing some tips for achieving depth in the landscape and I talk through my layering approach with gouache. Let me know if you have questions!
✧ Materials ✧
✦ the sketchbook I'm using: bit.ly/3NbLNzi
✦ Princeton Velvetouch Series 3950 Synthetic Brushes and Sets bit.ly/3MmyFoo
✦ Holbein Artists' Gouache bit.ly/3gTjjwx
✦ Winsor and Newton Designer Gouache Set bit.ly/3VtkCRS
*I use affiliate links which means I get a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you!
✧ links ✧
✦My Etsy Shop bit.ly/3Aesuya
✦My Instagram bit.ly/3GgtN3m
✦My Tik Tok bit.ly/3lOBtBS
✧Music✧
Music by Naomi - Saturday Light - thmatc.co/?l=D18F223A
Music by Citrus Avenue - Julia's Toes - thmatc.co/?l=33AC62C6
Music by Reggie San Miguel - Day by Day - thmatc.co/?l=B87B8F5A
Music by CFEQ - Sugar free - thmatc.co/?l=EAFBC19F
Music by Gil Wanders - By The River - thmatc.co/?l=F457635B

[@rubyfisch5077]

I love that you talk about getting past that 'ugly' stage. I think too many people give up at that stage and don't realize that it's common, and to just keep going. Very nice paintings! Thanks for sharing.

[@sofiapavanmacias]

It's so easy to give up at the ugly stage, it was only through going through many ugly stages that I finally got used to it as part of the process. Thank you for watching! 🥰

[@jakecavendish3470]

I _love_ gouache, the matte finish is gorgeous and it gives me all the qualities of oil paint with none of the faff. Plus you can do hard edge ligne claire or soft romantic washes, or both on the same painting, it's so versatile. I actually started using it for studies for oils and quickly realised I like the studies more than the oils. I think it is very intuitive, most people could get to grips with it after a few tries, it's basically just poster paint like we all used at school, so as long as you are able to make a composition you like and balance the colours in a way you like you'll have no trouble at all.

[@yoliredd4764]

I would ❤ to see your process for painting the flowers. So beautiful. I absolutely love your art.

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thanks so much! ok video of that painting on the way ☺️

[@JAMSARTCHANNEL]

Love the landscapes, Nice work!

[@lidiakrajewskaart]

I love how you explain your creative process! And of course your artwork is beautiful 😍

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thank you so much! Really appreciate it 🥰

[@Blick_Art]

This is a great balance of systematic and improvisational painting! Having a basic plan for sequence of application is always beneficial, but in gouache it's pretty much a necessity. This is an excellent demonstration of how planning facilitates creativity!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thanks Blick! I like how you put it, I definitely have to have a systematic approach with gouache to an extent, but I also like to improvise along the way too (which can sometimes make it a bit hard to explain my process 😅)

[@dorettaremy8245]

Love these!

[@eightysev]

wooowww! so beautiful !! it looks so intimidating to paint but hearing you break it down and constant reassurance during the ugly stages..., it gives me motivation to attempt this!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Yay, so glad to hear it! It’s so useful to see how everyone goes through the ugly stages 😅

[@angela14962002]

Beautiful!

[@flowing_through_life]

Just wow! ❤

[@SamLyn]

This was a great tutorial! Thank you

[@jillkent6134]

They look amazing it has been so helpful watching your stages and hearing your thought processes, I look forward to practicing!

[@maggiemadwestiemum4511]

I love Gouache so good to see a decent video about it

[@Studioartbyje]

Thank you very much for your videos. They are a real class. I will try following some your tips.

[@magistra137]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@-GGee-]

I so appreciate that you go at a pace without speeding up the video like every other art process video I see. This was the most educational art video and love the gouache. Your work is just gorgeous.

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thank you! this is so lovely to hear, glad it was helpful :)

[@christinapero8640]

So gorgeous! Stunning! ❤

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thank you lovely Christina! 🥰

[@ChantelleArts]

Beautiful paintings, I think the first one might be my favourite but I love the addition of pink in the second 😮

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thanks so much! I loved adding the pink to all that green ☺️

[@FaithAnnNB]

Love them both… and appreciated your explanation throughout!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

I’m so glad to hear that- thank you! 🥰

[@OscarLopez-fx9nt]

These turned out beautiful! 😮

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thank you 🥰❤️😘 ily

[@indiomara]

I simply LOVE your videos and your art!!! You’re so talented, I love those landscapes 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😍😍

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thank you so so much for your lovely words 😘

[@plumtus]

gorgeous paintings and you have such a therapeutic voice. Thanks so much for this video :D!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thanks so much for watching 🥰

[@ArtistHabibPasha]

Ma'sha'Allah ❤ Really lovely so beautiful painting tutorial and great idea ⚘️👌

[@ngcgdyaare9743]

So thankful for your tutorial! This is going to help me a lot as a beginner. I cannot wait to try these.

[@sofiapavanmacias]

I love this! Can't wait to see what you create ❤️

[@nukhbahsany9712]

Your instructions are really clear. I learned a lot from this video.

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Yay! So glad to hear this 🥰

[@lcwaves]

Beautiful work and thank you for the super helpful walk through on how you paint with gouache, I have painted with acrylic and oils for years and just started gouache today! This was very helpful to get me excited about trying some landscapes!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Yay! Love to hear this, hope you have lots of fun 🥰

[@robinreestman1055]

Your videos are so helpfull!! I love these types of paintings and i've been getting into gouache but I have zero 'technical' painting skills and I have no idea how to get to get from the thing i have in my head on paper on a practical level. I tried a lot a different tutorials but yours are my favorite and they really helped me a lot so thank you!!!❤ (Also I really love your art!!)

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thank you for this lovely comment! I will be making more for sure, so glad they are useful for you 💕

[@mireiarochester155]

I love your landscapes ❤

[@sofiapavanmacias]

ahh thank you for watching ❤️

[@rhonda1631]

Thank you, what a wonderful video. You really explained the process, breaking it down. I love urban sketching, buildings, landscapes and florals. Thank you again!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

so glad it was helpful! thanks for watching :)

[@AlliListArt]

so very helpful tips, just seeing someone paint doesn't help to much but your video is teaching at its best and hearing your process x beautiful paintings x thank u for sharing x love Alli and Bella XXX

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thanks so much! This means a lot!! ❤️

[@colorsensewithjen8200]

thank you for the video. I'm just beginning to learn with guoache, so far I like it. But this is helpful for learning! :) Merry Christmas

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thanks for watching! So glad you are liking gouache :)

[@v.mishrasart43]

Excellent work😲👍

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@barbclark69]

Great fun, thank you. I just subbed you, thanks to the Strathmore newsletter this month. Love your work.

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Ah thanks so much 🥰 and thank you for subscribing!

[@vanessajaud-pastels-peintu3840]

really nice

[@FlynnsPaintingCompany]

Thanks for sharing! very helpful study for an intermediate beginner plan on doing these after my page I'm working on now

[@sofiapavanmacias]

so glad it was helpful! 🥰

[@Mohammad_sizan]

Wow dear..!!! I love all your videos.🤍 Please do some tutorial on gouache paintings on how to draw urban houses....That will be really helpful for beginner artist🌼

[@florquercia6101]

I love It. I would like to see the photo reference all the time to better understand what are you seeing to take your decisions. Thank you for the video 💖

[@sofiapavanmacias]

This is a great suggestion, thank you! I share my ref pics on my Instagram under one of my story highlights if you ever want to use them ☺️

[@colorsensewithjen8200]

wow. done in one hour! sounds fast to me!

[@abmartdrawing5366]

Wonderful painting is very beautiful .., I like your painting technique, thanks for the video, I hope you stay healthy and happy all day long

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thank you!! 🥰

[@b.comeau2597]

Sofia, where may I find the same journal you paint in with the tan paper? Your paintings are so lovely!

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thank you 🥰 this is the strathmore mixed media toned tan journal!

[@BantuinKerjain]

Love ur artttt, btw What type of camera that u use to record ur video?

[@sofiapavanmacias]

thanks so much! This particular video was recorded with an iphone 13 pro ☺️

[@BantuinKerjain]

@@sofiapavanmacias I see, thank u

[@Robin-MP]

Do you ever have issues with the gouache flaking and peeling off the paper?

[@lifeismusicparnadonkers]

Hello i have a question. I paint whit himi miya gouache. Its my favoriete gouache and i was wondering do you need 2 white,s? I have a tittanium white and a normal white in my gouache set. Do you need both or is one for high lights and 1 for painting things white? Thank you i love you,re paintings

[@sofiapavanmacias]

hi! Titanium white is more opaque and good to use for those highlights and top layers, and zinc white is supposed to be better for mixing with colors to get different values/shifts in color... but to be honest I don't always pay attention to this when painting 😁

[@Bkt27]

I ❤ them both I got gouache but have no idea what to do😅

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Thank you! 🥰 when I first started with gouache I did really simple landscapes and it helped me learn a lot about the paint!

[@virberrocalart]

Hi! I have the same sketchbook and i wonder if the paper admites well the wet over wet technique. What do you think? Thank you in avance! Greetings from Spain 😊

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Hi! I'm not too sure about wet on wet as I don't tend to use that technique as much, I do know that it takes on many layers of paint as I tend to paint with lots of layers and it does really well! 💛

[@virberrocalart]

@@sofiapavanmacias Thank you Sofía ☺️. I follow you on ig too, your art is so inspiring! Thanks for the tips 🥰

[@sofiapavanmacias]

@@virberrocalart ahh thanks so much for following along 🥰🫶🏻

[@elizabethcalli8237]

would you ever paint a reference photo that a follower sent you? I've got a landscape photo ive been wanting to paint and my first attempt hasnt gone well so far. i took the photo during my honeymoon so it's really special to me and i think it would help to have some guidance.

[@a.s3911]

Hello Sofia! I absolutely lovee your art but as a beginner, even though you explained your process, i find it hard to follow along. If it's not too much trouble, could you please upload more beginner friendly tutorials? And maybe explain how to layer goauche like you did for your lemon and oranges painting? Thank you for sharing your art with us! ❤

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Hi! I’ll definitely look at doing more beginner friendly tutorials ☺️ are there any particular steps you felt like you wanted me to go more in depth into in this video?

[@sofiapavanmacias]

And thank you for watching btw 🥰

[@a.s3911]

@@sofiapavanmacias Hi! I would love to learn from you more about the different consistency of gouache and how to layer them. U often mention buttery consistency but I'm not sure how to achieve it. And please teach us in detail about color mixing. I have watched videos but I'm still not too sure about it. Thank you for replying to my comment!

[@elinpaw]

Okay. no matter how i look at it. that does not look like Cyan to me. that looks like royal blue or ultramarine. can someone please explain this?

[@sofiapavanmacias]

It's called "primary cyan" from holbein's primary gouache set... i think primary cyan does pull more towards a royal blue versus the more aqua-like tone of just cyan... I'm googling this so I may be wrong 😅

[@elinpaw]

@@sofiapavanmacias oh okay! I understand 😊Thank you for replying.

[@izzatiibtisamah3615]

Name of the sheet/the paper?

[@sofiapavanmacias]

this is the strathmore mixed media toned tan journal :)

[@user-wi9kv9gm3r]

It's a beautiful landscape. Thank you so much for the good tips. 10720

[@sofiapavanmacias]

Glad it was helpful! 💕

[@helseyrivera3280]

1Hr!? That’s fast for me 😅 I take 3 hrs (I’m a beginner) it’s comforting to know the shadows looks like nothing at first, I panick at that stage 😅

[@sofiapavanmacias]

yes there is always a point where the shadows and underpainting looks scary haha but if you break through that it ends up coming together 💕