One could say that I’m obsessed with the flexibility of these palettes. After using two separate pocket palettes in my mini Sendak, one watercolor and one gouache, I decided that one large folio works better for me. But how to combine watercolor and gouache in a useable way?
This is what I came up with upon returning home from our camping trip yesterday. The watercolor pans are placed horizontally and gouache pans are vertical — all except that perylene black gouache but its placement was unavoidable. I’m trying to keep color groups together.
UPDATE: the Transparent Red Oxide watercolor was supposed to be a brownish color but it was too similar to the Venetian Red. So I replaced it with Lunar Earth. Being transparent, I was able to lift it with a wet stiff brush and tissue before applying the new paint choice.
I've been reorganizing my arttoolkit palettes as well. And I'm trying to restrain myself from buying another one (I already have five!). I've been looking at some of those same Iridori colors and it's really beneficial to see your swatches. I love "nontraditional" palettes and am also starting to mix some of my watercolors and gouache on the same palette. Especially when I can't find a color in gouache that I really like in watercolor. I'm attempting to get away from bright colors for a more muted palette. I have to say though, the one bright one I discovered that I love is the Iridori Peony gouache. It's lovely! Are most of your gouache colors from Holbein? I really like some of their colors, however, I really like how Daniel Smith's gouache rewets. Not at all crumbly or gritty.
ReplyDeleteThese palettes just may be my secret addiction! I love putting together collections of pigments almost as much as I love sketching, and the magnet makes it so easy to rearrange.
DeleteMuted, earthy, natural colors have always been my favorites, especially those that granulate or separate in watery mixes. But for years my palettes had the normal bright warm and cool primaries plus neutrals that we are all taught.
Then I began watching Natasha Newton on YouTube and thought “why am I using colors that require so much mixing when I can build a palette of the colors I’m most drawn to using?
Natasha’s friend, Kriksis, has videos showing how she mixes different colors of gouache right in the pans to have the colors she uses ready to go — no need to mix before painting, just dip in and paint. So yesterday I mixed up a Demi palette with the colors in her nature inspired gouache palette (the pocket palette she carries in her mini Sendak roll.)
Yes, most of my gouache paints are Holbein because of their color options, but Daniel Smith is my favorite for the consistency and “rewetability” (is that even a word? š). When I fill a pan with other brands, I stir in the tiniest drop of glycerin with the tip of a toothpick — helps minimalize cracking and keeps it easier to rewet.
You and me both, I admit it is highly addictive. I think buying art toolkits and paint, filling them, and organizing which color goes where is a hobby all unto itself! I just rewatched Kriksis' video mixing colors in the pan. I decided to mix some leftover tubes I had to see what I could come up with. I came up with a lovely muted dark blue/turquoise color made up of Perylene black gouache, and lemon yellow and French ultramarine watercolors. Next up is mixing pyrrol red gouache mixed with neutral tint watercolor. It makes a nice earthy maroon color. I also watched Natasha setting up her gouache palette, she has some lovely colors in there. I took note of some of the colors I may want to try.
ReplyDeleteYour red ochre above is really unique. I like that it doesn't lean towards an orange. Do you remember which brand that is? W&N maybe? My DS Venetian Red gouache was just to much for me. Too strong and overpowering, and just not sure how to use it.
Me too, I have alot of traditional palette colors and sometimes struggle with them. I thought the answer might be a limited palette. While the colors I chose work well together and come up with some clean mixes, they are too bright and I didn't really have a good neutralizing color. I was recently watching some of these artists who use muted palettes and it gave me permission to play around and rethink how I use paint. Recently I've been watching/following Olga Novikova (oladyhemp). She uses some interesting colors in interesting ways. And she uses a dry gouache palette.
Thank you for the chat and the inspiration!
You are so right! This _is_ a hobby of its own!
DeleteI’ve mixed several watercolors myself as well; for years I mixed my own black (ultramarine and burnt umber) before Jane’s Grey came out with the same pigments. Single pigments work best for this, but I’ve really had fun trying to mix Schmincke’s super granulating colors! Potter’s Pink mixed with Cobalt Turquoise is a favorite.
Red Ochre is a Winsor & Newton Designer’s gouache. I wanted an earthy red without pink or orange undertones — never know when we might see a pilated woodpecker when camping in the forest!
I’ll be looking up Olga Novikova today. Thanks!