New Gouache and Art Supplies, Swatching and Painting

I bought a few new supplies and I’m hoping that finally this will be the year I get out to plein air paint! It seems some health problem tries to stand in my way. I’m finally getting back on track. So I’m testing out some new colors today in one of my company favorites of gouache.
So I will show you what’s new in my art supplies, and do some palette set up and searching and finally a painting.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thanks so much Brian. Yes I’m hoping it’s very long!😊

[@karliepatterson2803]

Good to see you painting again. A palette of nice colors with a lovely painting. Well done Sharon.

[@btwilks]

Another success with that painting, Sharon! As you say in the video, it only seems like 15 minutes ago that gouache just didn't feature at all on Y/Tube (except for James Gurney's excellent videos) and then suddenly "Boom!" and everyone was using it. Fortunately there is now a large number of artists, such as yourself, creating demonstration videos which make it so much easier for newcomers to pick up the techniques and to see the possibilities that gouache has as an alternative to other mediums. Thanks for this video and, as others have said in comments, it's good to see how well you're doing after a long period of health set-backs. Long may it continue for you. Kind regards, Brian.

[@barbaraagostino-xo9hg]

So glad you’re better your paintings are lovely

[@marshyproperty]

thanks for sharing Sharon

[@nancylemon4120]

Welcome Back Sharon!❤❤🎉🎉

[@arcuda2001]

nice to see you feeling better, sharon, and painting 😁😁👍👍norakag

[@maryrapp1315]

Enjoyed watching you paint.and the information you gave. So happy you are back!

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thank you Mary. It is good to be back.

[@zoewhiteart7676]

Beautiful painting! 🌿🎨😍

[@madelynsmith8281]

Beautiful painting! Thanks for the swatching.😊

[@SharonCullenArt]

My pleasure 😊

[@drbennettdc]

Thank you for another video and information. Happy to see that you are doing so much better. Your gouache piece turned out beautiful.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thank you so much!

[@marypanich9880]

Such a lovely painting! Thanks for sharing this video, Sharon.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thanks for watching.

[@annejameson3425]

Beautiful!

[@amyb82941]

💜💜💜 what a great painting! Thank you

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thank you.

[@deborahandrade3453]

Beautiful as always, Sharon! I have a set of Holbein Gouache that I haven’t tried yet. This has inspired me and i think I’ll pull it out this week. Thank you for posting and I hope you are well! 🙏🏻❤️

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thanks. That’s great. Yes, pull it out and play with it. If you’ve never used gouache before, remember thin to fat and as you build layers, don’t use puddles of paint. With subsequent layers your brush shouldn’t be as wet.

[@impish22]

love this painting!! thanks for sharing Sharon !!

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thanks so much 😊

[@debbierheault6552]

So lovely!

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thank you! 😊

[@ms.rocketscience4924]

Your painting is lovely! I have this set and haven’t tried in out yet. Now that I see it used in real life, I’m going to break it out. Thanks for sharing the video😘

[@SharonCullenArt]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@pattymcclung3300]

It’s so magical watching you create! 🩷

[@SharonCullenArt]

Thank you! 😊

[@loveandlife4222]

Beautiful painting Sharon. I’m wondering if you can tell me what the advantages of wanting to paint with gouache are? I use watercolor and I’ve thought maybe I should buy and try some gouache but I just can’t see an advantage to it. Except for being able to cover things easier and fix mistakes. Sometimes that would be nice. I am a watercolor magic lover and I just love using different colors often as I paint to get the beautiful mingling of the colors together. I don’t see that being able to be done with gouache. I know there are many that love it! I think of James Gurney. He uses gouache or casein. And he is a beautiful artist! I may have to ask him too on one of his videos. Anyway, I was just wondering about your thoughts. Thank you for a great video! I’m so glad you’re feeling better now.

[@SharonCullenArt]

I think of gouache as a separate medium like oil to watercolor, not transparent vs opaque. They are used very differently. And as I said in the video, it is often called opaque watercolor, but I have opaque watercolor and cannot get these effects. I just fell in love with the medium and I don’t compare the two. I still love watercolor and enjoy painting with it, and I love the ethereal quality of watercolor as well, but I love the result with gouache. It looks very different. So I would suggest not thinking of it as you would watercolor and don’t compare the two. If I painted the same painting side by side in watercolor and gouache they would look very different. My approach to each painting process would be different. I don’t think of gouache as a way to cover up mistakes. Although this can be done and I have used gouache to complete a lousy looking watercolor painting, I could cover it with casein, or oils, or even pastel or colored pencils or acrylic markers. This isn’t the purpose of the medium. It is uniquely different in its result. If you do decide to try it, I recommend a limited palette, unless you plan to go with an inexpensive set. I would get the best you can afford. Those Himi gouache cases are okay but painting with professional, tube colors has a different feel, and the opacity is better as well as lightfastness. You could get a set of primaries + black and white and that’s all you need. But if you do get a Himi set just get a shall one.

[@loveandlife4222]

@@SharonCullenArt Thank you for responding to me! I guess my problem all along is that I’ve been comparing gouache to watercolor. I will have to stop doing that. I’m not ready to give it a try yet. I’m trying to get strong enough to be put on the lung transplant waiting list. I don’t feel well very often so watercolor is all I can try to do right now. But after that double lung transplant and I’m on the mend I may just venture out and try some gouache. I don’t buy low cost supplies. I will certainly buy a good brand. What is your favorite brand? Do you have just one or two? Thank you again for your advice! I do appreciate it as I value your opinion.

[@phillipstroll7385]

Superglue and baking soda will make the plastic re-bond stronger than the original plastic.

[@SharonCullenArt]

Okay thanks for the tip?😊