I worked digitally pretty exclusively for many years.
And eventually, it started feeling like a total chore. I wasn't enjoying the process or the work I was making.
Pulling back from the computer didn't happen in one fell swoop- it was gradual, messy, and really, not very good at all.
But it was worth all the uncomfortable starting over feels to find a material I now love and a process that feels like a better fit for me.
If you’re in a similar boat, I hope these things I learned along the way can help you step away from the screens and have some fun with gouache too!
Put a pause on your expectations
When I first started painting with gouache, I'd have a picture perfect idea of how I wanted it to "behave." The colors would mix perfectly, lay flat on the page, and effortlessly stay in the lines- but when I stepped back to look at my first painting in ages, I was hit with a wave of disappointment. "Hot damn, what a mess. You should be better at this," I thought.
It made me miss the sweet comfort of my Command Z button so much!
But instead of beating myself up further, or clinging to my expectations, I tried (and tried...and tried) to embrace the messy newness of it all and keep going.
It's a challenge I know, but if you can offer yourself some love and acceptance for wherever you currently are, you'll grow so much faster and have so much more fun than if you let your inner critic run the show.
'If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
-Vincent Van Gogh
Color match your under drawing
Choose a warm or cool colored pencil based on your palette to sketch out your drawing. The colored lines fall away much more seamlessly than graphite!
I often use Prismacolor Col-Erase Terra Cotta for this.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing
You don't have to completely abandon digital tools to start working more traditionally!
I often like to quickly test color options digitally so I have some direction when I pick my palette.
Find a balance that works for you.
Seek outside inspo
Attending a week long art retreat a few years ago was the single most important thing that helped me break free from my digital comfort zone. It gave me inspiration I still feed off of to this day.
If you've been making for a long time, you might feel like I did- that attending a local workshop or taking a class is unnecessary or not a great use of money.
But it's such a wonderful way to get out of your head and shake up any staleness that's holding you back from creating joyfully!
Don't be afraid to start over
Surprise! Lots of artists will paint a piece two or three times before they're happy with it. The constant onslaught of flawless reels has us believing that talented folks never struggle or make any mistakes.
And what a relief it is to know that isn't true, right?!
You don’t need a million brushes
I work with 2-3 brushes…for everything.
My go to brush for over a decade has been this Princeton Heritage round brush. I've found that using a bigger brush, even for smaller paintings, leads to nicer textures overall. And for any finer details, I use super sharp colored pencils or this tiny round brush.
Work smaller
Keeping the size of my pieces on the smaller side helps simplify my work and keeps me from getting in the weeds with too many details.
Scrap the Black
Instead of defaulting to black for darker areas, try using sepia or Prussian blue. This simple switch can add depth and interest to your pieces, a fantastic tip I’ve learned from a few different artists.
What’s helped you enjoy working more traditionally? I’d love to hear!
Much Love,
Cait
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