Gouache painting for BEGINNERS ✶ How I paint from reference photos

[@starvingartistscollective]

I am glad you don't slavishly copy the reference photo Sarah but offer us your emotional response to an environment. Too many people on YT associate photo-realism with 'good' art and neglect any other. The Impressionists, who remain to this day one of the most popular art movements ever, did not do realism or natural colour. They gave us their colourful, emotional responses to landscape and plein aire enviroments. Yours are delightful and show your love of landscape! Relate to the 'colour zone' idea, it's how I think too. Have not tried mixing my gouache colours with a palette knife so will give this a try. TFS!!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you so much! In the past I did lots of realism studies because they are good learning tools, but I never felt...Well I didnt feel anything really 😅 but when I paint from an emotional place I feel alive and happy.

[@belindahall5220]

I heartily agree!!!! A painting should touch you with emotion and feeling and draw you in so that you feel like you're a part of it, or wish you could be:)

[@fletcherlayton7374]

Instablaster...

[@annabandana9889]

Ooh. I love the little value thing you did that showed what you were doing in your head! Super helpful and super useful. The way you break down your process is so great.

[@ireneurban3599]

thank you so much for explaining your process, showing the steps to capture the mood of this beautiful scenery, your tree just shines😍👏👏👏

[@TLS115]

Gorgeous! The palette has a very Monet-esque feel to it. Love it!

[@RosaNicolosi-v7r]

I love your videos! Sarah thank you so very much.🌻

[@adnil651]

WONDERFUL!!

[@103Ds]

Beautiful work. Managing moisture in gouache is a real challenge, but I love the feel of the paint when the moisture is just right.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I agree!

[@silkeschumann7261]

8:30 I love how you describe your emotional process working in concert with your analytic brain and painting experience. It was illuminating. Thank you for sharing.

[@davidsim6906]

Hello, a great showcase and shout out for the light and landscape in Scotland and for gouache painting in general. I find your channel to be a great resource. Thank you, David @St Andrews Art Club.

[@carrollwilson5169]

Great video. Loved it being longer. Until next time, take care and keep painting

[@emilydeaton1169]

I love gouache, especially since I don’t work with oils and Ali appreciate the thick texture you can get with gouache, but it’s definitely hard! Like you talked about, I often don’t mix enough paint, so try to remix the same color, and in turn end up using more paint than I would’ve I’d mixed enough to begin with. 😅 Have you given a tour of the paints in your gouache palette before? If not, I’d love to see it! Beautiful painting and wonderful video as always. 💜

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I’m currently transitioning from my old tubes to some new ones (haven’t opened them yet, dying to!) so as soon as I do that I’ll do a swatching video. The closest thing I have now is my recent video about THICK gouache.

[@loandoan2955]

Thank you for your amazing video. It helps me a lot for understanding the whole process from taking a reference photo to finish the the picture. You are one of the best artists-teachers I have ever seen!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

You are so kind! I'm really glad it helped you :)

[@sheiladeng7135]

Love the pastel colors of this painting.

[@luanamoraes3578]

Unbeliavebly useful video!!!! Thank you so much!!

[@wasabi1drful]

Your videos are so informative. Thank you for sharing!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

My pleasure!

[@Karen_Tries]

I feel like this color palette give it like a studio ghibli style landscape painting feel!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yes totally!

[@SophieRoseArt]

I added this video to my watch later, I suppose years ago now. anyways I finally came back to watch it and I loved it. the shots are so beautiful, I love hearing the animals in the background and hearing you talk about your painting process. thank you so much for sharing

[@cascadiastudio5182]

Thanks for the Gouache tutorial! Hoping to get my Holbein Gouaches tomorrow! Thanks for the tips about mixing with the palette knife first - I didn't know that since I'm coming from watercolors. You're definitely helping me save some paint with your tips!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Oh so exciting!!! I really hope you enjoy it.

[@henriquejanuario881]

Great class and vídeo! Thanks for sharing! And the force be with you!

[@poojamugeraya538]

Loved this video! Will keep coming back to it as I attempt to paint gouache landscapes from images. Thank you for sharing your approach and breaking it down in such an easy to follow manner. You’re so inspiring in your humility and love for art!💜

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I’m glad the break down of the process helps :D

[@terrydority]

Thanks Sarah. I love it! ❤️

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Wow watching you painting this is a huge help for me to begin my very first gouache painting. I got my 16 well sealed palette filled with my 10 colors of W&N Gouache & I’ve done my color swatches. Thanks for explaining the steps & process of the painting. I really appreciate your help for learning this medium.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yay so exciting!! Ahh...there's nothing like a new clean palette with fresh gouache 😍

[@milaronyartgallery4667]

Wow it's a wonderful painting. This is great work. You talented.I enjoyed it.stay connected. 😲😇😇😍

[@ArtWorkOfDR]

Very Beautiful 🥰 piece Doll it just amazing the colors are soft in some areas and the way they the shades change throughout the piece 🥰

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@driss2286]

Hi Sarah! Please I really struggle painting mountains with gouache and don't know how to break the complecated structure of them, can you do a tutorial for that? and thank you By the way you're an amazing artist and I'am very happy that I found you channel.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I'll add that to my list!

[@driss2286]

@@SarahBurnsStudio Thank you so much

[@IsaacBenjaminGrey]

I just love gouache so much, I think it’s so special 💚💙💛🧡

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yessss it's my favorite!

[@sarajamal799]

Nice colors 🤩

[@stacyg8847]

Thank you for sharing your inner voice, talents and time. My Goal: incorporate thoughtful planning before setting paint to paper and practice, practice, practice. Peace.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

That's a great goal!

[@andreamarshall3356]

I have got some pictures from Edinbourgh to paint ,relatives do come in handy

[@pinkflamingo5628]

Thanks Sarah! Water control is more challenging with gouache than watercolor, I think. With regular watercolor if I don’t get it right I can (maybe) add a glaze, with gouache it’s trickier to find the right consistency of pigment to water. Definitely need more practice. Trying not to be too frustrated but, boy, it’s hard. Thanks for covering this 🌺

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It really is an ongoing struggle isn’t it! I still have times when I use WAY to much water and end up with a goopy mess. Usually I just dab it with a tissue and wait for it to dry, or get my heat gun out.

[@johnwalters978]

very nice, thanks

[@emilymaness]

I just love how this turned out!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thanks! It's that time of year again...suddenly green everywhere!

[@daniellebuck2554]

I’m just starting out in gouache painting and I’m loving all these beginners videos! Thank you 🙏🏼 love your channel 💕

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

You're welcome! Gouache is SO much fun!

[@deborahmeyers7839]

Beautiful artwork 🦋

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you very much!

[@Dmsphotos1]

Beautiful!! And wonderful channel!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you very much!

[@ann-marielofberg1159]

I can’t complain about You and this videos, personal and respectful to nature and just enjoy the view, wanna let us know what You see and give us the possibility to having our own thoughts and what we choose to replicate and there isn’t any wrong way in painting or creating. It is different angles and maybe different ways to get there and the journey is almost as pleasant as the result - maybe, or more probably, it’s not on the 1st try. But when You get there, get the feeling of knowing the technique to get the result You want and sometimes it can happens through happy accident. Accident or not, You can learn something and if so, I wouldn’t call it accident. Happy Moments!

[@elaineschwartz5838]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! It was great to see your technique for keeping your paint creamy. I am just beginning to use gouache and live in Denver (I know you lived here before moving to Scotland) and the dry climate just seems an additional challenge without wasting too much gouache. Any additional words of advice would be appreciated! You are an excellent teacher😎💜

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

You could do a few things to slow down the dry time.. one is a combo of sponge/palette paper (Masterson Sta-wet system comes to mind), or squeeze your paint onto a damp paper towel (that is what most people do), and carry a spray bottle so you can mist it once in a while

[@elaineschwartz5838]

@@SarahBurnsStudio Thanks!

[@loreleibell6287]

Yeah. Think I'll stick with acrylics. I usually take photos, but if I get outside I do use watercolors, or pencil. Thanks for info, though. Love your work, dear.

[@aesea57804]

First glimpse made me think of VanGogh. Love the colors you came to use. Can you comment about that box you’ve put your paint in? I thought gouache dries out quickly so you would not be able to carry fresh paint like that. I’m just starting gouache, have worked in watercolors. Shocking how different it is to use!!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thanks! Check out some of my recent gouache videos, I talk about it a lot

[@SereneStudio]

Hey, Sarah- I recently realized I've been using gouache way too diluted while doing some mixing charts of yours. I thought one had to work thin > thick with gouache because you wouldn't be able to layer thick on thick, but obviously I'm wrong. This painting came out beautifully and I love the little sheep!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yea the main thing to remember with gouache is that water reactivates it, so you want LESS water on the top layers. Hence thick over thin

[@ladyt1277]

Hi Sarah. Thank you so much for the gouache videos. You are such an inspiration. I’ve indulged and purchased several tubes of gouache. They are being delivered today. Yeah! Do you use the same brushes for gouache as you do for your watercolor? I know it is water soluble but I wanted to know if you had a dedicated set specifically for gouache.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Awesome! Yes I use the same brushes, except I prefer my flat brushes for gouache because they hold less water. It allows me to control my water content better. Plus I like the big bold shapes I can get.

[@ladyt1277]

Sarah Burns Studio Thank you for the tip! I noticed you used a lot of flat brushes for gouache. I need to dive right in and play. I’m very excited to binge-watch more videos, too, and take notes :-)

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I have a whole playlist of gouache videos to check out! Some other artists who do gouache to check out on KZbin would be Lena Rivo, James Gurney, and Jared Loves to Draw.

[@backyardstamper]

I love this, I am going to try to replicate it, will let you know how that works! Thank you!

[@RosaNicolosi-v7r]

Sarah do you have any of your tutorials on portrait with gouache? Thanks so very much for everything.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

No I don't do portraiture

[@RosaNicolosi-v7r]

@@SarahBurnsStudio Sarah, I''m challenged with the portrait I am doing currently and it will probably be my last. What I love most about the way that you paint is your bringing to it the feeling that you have when you are immersed in nature. Thanks so much for the abundance of information based on experience you offer. And thank you for so promptly answering my questions. Have a lovely weekend!

[@BrendaArtist]

🤭 I wouldn't feel comfortable to sit outside to paint where other people are as people will watch and I feel shy or a doggy comes to say hi with a wet nose 🤭 as I have 2 dogs they smell them on me and most are curious. but I actually find it a lovely idea and very relaxing to sit outside somewhere quiet and calm to paint whatever I see. totally got triggered with it by your video 👍🏻😊

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I get uncomfortable when people come by to talk about me, but I try to remember they are naturally curious because you don't often see someone painting outside. In some cases I have to not engage them very much in order to encourage them to leave lol

[@teresagaloob8156]

Wondering if much of this landscape could have also been captured in Real Time-using your car-from where it was parked x the st. in the parking lot ? (Georgia O'Keefe also used her car many x's for plein air art. ) . My car comes in handy in winter., w. windows down -capturing the surroundings . Using Gouache seems so time -consuming -and creating a quick watercolor sketch in nature would to me, seem too challenging and possibly hampering the quick capture and beauty of plein air painting (in nature). Interesting -learning about the process-thank you for Sharing !

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I do on occasion paint from my car! In this case the parking spot did not offer a good/inspiring view.

[@callmedeno]

Palette Knife! That's what I need

[@paketa7736]

What's a good beginner's gouache brand/set?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

You only need 5 tubes, any brand. I'd recommend Winsor and Newton to start with. Red, yellow, blue, black, white. Then if you can afford it, buy a phthalo blue and green of some kind so you can mix vibrant turquoises (or just buy turquoise!)

[@miztum5051]

I just bought a gouache paint and ive been binge watching videos about tips in using them (my main art medium is really watercolor) and i admit im really scared to use it for now because of my limited resources (the materials are so much expensive for me as im just a student) and i dont wanna waste every paint and page of my pad.... but i guess i'll just have to get courage to try and experiment on it myself and go with the flow

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

You will be surprised how far the paint can go! With my techniques the majority of my layers are slightly diluted, and the thicker paint on top, so my tubes last a really long time!

[@miztum5051]

@@SarahBurnsStudio thank you so much for the tips i'll keep on watching your vids and hopefully i can soon create wonderful artworks like you!

[@cjrt6425]

Can you share the camera you use and how you set it up to record while you paint?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

To be honest I don't remember. But more than 1/2 of my videos are just my phone camera!

[@XxcutiEcutiExX]

When I’m lifting the layer underneath, am I using too much water on the next layer? Or does that mean it’s not dry yet

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Yes, too much water will lift the layer beneath. If you're barely adding water, it could also mean the first layer isn't dry

[@Slaveofhell01]

Did I see Moya? :pogchamp:

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Indeed! 😁