This was Maxine’s third visit to Whitehorse Arts. And she always does something different. The variety of her skills is remarkable. Following up her previous visit when she almost finished a Venetian scene of a green door and balcony, she brought along the finished framed painting to show us. It was great. But today she had another slant on art, the combination of gouache and watercolour. Gouache is opaque watercolour. The thinning agent for both is water. A bit like the poster colour we used to use when we were at school. Maybe that is why Maxine favours it, she was a schoolteacher for many years. That shows in her confidence in talking freely to a group and handling the odd mind and tongue that might wander. She shows good humour at all times and answers impromptu questions readily. She arrived early to set up and had her preparation done which always guarantees a good lesson. Top marks Maxine.

Gouache used to be frowned upon among watercolourists, but is less so now. It is less flexible, has fewer accidental effects. You have to be precise to get the colour right. It has a density of colour. Lucas or Pelikan are good brands. Don’t squirt out a lot of paint as it dries out and does not re-hydrate.

Her reference was a watercolour of a country scene near Jamieson, in autumn, a paddock beside a road with trees. Low light causing shadows across the road. She used Arches 300gsm paper. It was to look painterly not photographic. You should be able to see the hand of the artist. Her advice was not to over draw with the pencil sketch. She draws with the brush wherever possible.

She quickly covered the paper with thin watercolour washes using a big brush held long. It was rather careless because it would be largely covered with gouache later. No fiddling with detail. She used a fan brush, scumbling and turning the brush for foliage, on its edge for trunks and twigs. There were mountains in the background. A bit of lifting out with tissue gave a misty look.

Then she went over to gouache. Mixing had to be more careful. You need a fair bit of white to mix with the colour. Stronger darks and lights were added to the foliage. Bluish white holes were painted in the foliage “to let the birds fly through”. Tree trunks in perspective lined the road, which was roughened up with texture. Distant trees were faded with milky gouache.

The coup de grace came with the purple shadows. Not straight across but a bit up and down to show undulations in the paddock and a ridge along the side of the road. Some coming from outside the picture plane made you think there is another big tree out there. Doing the last part in gouache gave a stronger picture than watercolour, but not as transparent. Pluses and minuses.

Very educational and entertaining Maxine. Thank you.

Report by Colin Browne

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