Painting a Gauguin inspired spread with gouache

[@deborarorvig2479]

I laughed out loud at your comment about...let's compare ourselves with everyone who's better than we are...to the point we become paralyzed...then never paint again! How absurd it sounds when you put it that wa. yet exactly what we (I) do! Thanks for being such a great mental therapist to those of us who have talked ourselves right out of enjoying our art practice!!!

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Yep, well I could go there if I let myself lol 😂

[@Reesispiecis]

You are so right! About a big part of creating is being ok feeling uncomfortable and staying with that feeling long enough that you go through that feeling and then onto the good part and over time you get better and better. After half a lifetime creating I’m just getting that and letting go of all the fear art school created…having FUN creating for the first time since i was little. Ive enjoyed creating but have never called it “fun” before.

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

What great insights. Yes unfortunately too much formal training seems to have fear associated with it. It's tough if you're a sensitive creature.

[@artisanstitch]

Another lovely sketchbook painting. I must try some Gauguin-inspired work. Watching lots of your vids again while confined to home with covid so I’ve got the desire to paint but no energy. I love that you’re using the piano-playing analogy 😆

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Thank you so much 😀 Watching videos is a good way to advance your practice when you don't have energy to create!

[@laurad.756]

Derain is my favorite fauvist, I grew up in Houston and MFAH has a nice one-- maybe more- I cant remember- i love him.

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Good to know! I’ll make sure and see it if I’m ever in Houston

[@TiggyTabbycat]

I am getting your class for my birthday but I am doing all the pages you have been showing on your youtube videos. I am obsessed I have never been able to find a style that I could actually achieve without being so hard on myself. I just went to the Van Gogh immersion and they talked about Gauguin and how they were friends. I am making some notecards to send as a gift. :)

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Wonderful! That's great to hear, yes they influenced each other a lot. I'm so glad you are creating!

[@joydavis3089]

Thanks

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Your're welcome

[@carolbenavidez2228]

Love this new work and can't wait for this class! I'd also like to know what book on Fauvism you were reading.

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Thank you! I’ll get the name and post it

[@ALittleCreative]

I love your skillshare classes! Thanks so much for sharing. Is there a link to the FB group on the SS class site? Also, what book on Fauvism were you reading? It sounds fascinating.

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Thanks so much! I’ll get the name and post, I’m traveling now😘

[@karinswartz3046]

Hi, I'm thinking of joining your class, the one on your website. I'm wondering what size sketchbook is best? I have a 8X11 Strathmore journal that I use for all of my mixed media projects. I belong to Karen Campbell's Awesome Art School and put all of her projects in there. I see that you have a smaller journal in this video and wondering if this is a good size for your lessons. I assume that I can use cold pressed watercolour paper? I also have a set of Himi Gouache and wondering if I should get a set of Turner since they are acrylic based, would that be a better choice for the class? I would also like to know what you are mixing your paint on in your videos. I do have a clear acrylic mixing sheet for inks, but have never used it so is that the same thing? It is from Hobby Lobby and comes with a large and small sheet, Finally, i have dabbled a bit with watercolour and only tried the HIMI once which surprisingly, was a huge challenge. I really like your use of colour and all of the beautiful things that you paint. I'm hoping to be able to learn how to paint in your style and to be able to paint loosely and freely so that I can one day sit down and just paint without having to depend on lessons. ( to gain more independence and autonomy ).

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Hello! You can use a journal with watercolor paper or mixed media. Sometimes I gesso the pages first if I’m using acrylics or acrylic gouache. I would just start with what you have, watch the supply videos in the class and then decide what to add. I use palette paper a lot. I have links to all supplies on my website! suzanneallard.com/supplies

[@karinswartz3046]

@@SuzanneAllardDesign Hi Suzanne, I actually did end up joining the 31 Sketchbook class. I have already done three pages of experimenting with the supplies that I have. I used regular Gouache, I ordered some Turner acrylic gouache and have already experimented in the Strathmore Visual journal which I had on hand. I really don't like a coil spine, but I bought the book months ago to dabble in so I might as well use it up. I have been using a chrome gold marker which does blend when other mediums are applied. What specific brand gold pens should I order and which of those are permanent and can't be reactivated when dry? I would like to order exactly the sizes and brands you use. Besides a white Posca, what other pens do you use in that colour and which ones are water soluble and which aren't? I would also like to know which navy pencil crayon you always use on many of your paintings. Finally, i would like to know, if I join a floral course, are there some guided projects and will I be able to create something on my own after the course or will it take me some time and practice? Thank you in advance and feel free to email me if that works better for you.

[@cmigliaccio1]

Will this be an entire class? I am in your current class for sketchbooks and I was wondering how it was different than these youtube videos for free? Thank you!

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Yes my classes are complete start to finish with lots of tips and techniques while youtube is more parts and chatting

[@carolbenavidez2228]

One of the techniques I'd like to learn most is painting colors that are not "realistically" there. My follow-the-rules brain says "you can't do that!" ;D Hope you'll give insight as to how to do that.

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

I do talk about that in my videos and classes. Studying the Fauve artists is great inspiration for this!

[@carolbenavidez2228]

@@SuzanneAllardDesign Thank you!

[@lizaw7641]

Is the background painted with acrylic gouache too? Or is it just acrylic paint?

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

Sorry for the late reply, we were moving! I use either acrylic or acryl gouache for backgrounds.

[@kv1815]

Do you teach the basics of composition in your classes? My rather pathetic paintings are all over the place in terms of composition, I am unable to grasp the flow of the elements on one page. Do you teach that?

[@SuzanneAllardDesign]

I do talk about composition in all my classes in the last six months and going forward. You can check out the options here: www.skillshare.com/r/user/suzallard