There are 3 painting topics I am actively thinking about a lot:
Gouache 🎨
Gouache is an opaque watercolor. I discovered it to a few year ago. It is lightweight, fast drying, non toxic, water based, and easy to cleanup.
I used to paint in oil. It was a real struggle. Heavy, bulky, wet panel carriers, turpentine, and a big mess. I dreaded traveling with oil.
But gouache is a dream. I can paint bold, thick, and vibrant… just like oil, without the fuss.
My hope over the next couple years is to continue painting in gouache, and help others realize its amazing convenience.
Traveling ✈️
I travel every couple months. Sometimes within the United States. Sometimes abroad. A benefit of my remote day job.
Traveling keeps me inspired. I like learning local languages and eating different foods.
Most importantly, it offers me fresh painting locations. Different geographies is great practice.
It has taught me the importance of convenience and minimalism. You can only pack so much! And also the importance of changing scenery to overcome a sense of stagnation.
Workshops 🖌️
Workshops are a great way to practice painting. Some are online. Very convenient. Some are in person. So I travel to attend them. But all are structured practice, which is helpful as a growing artist.
It’s nice to meet friends, and make new ones. Workshops bring together like-minded artists. We get to celebrate painting together.
I’m always on the lookout for the next workshop. Maybe it’s with an interesting artist. Or a fun style. Or in a cool location. Or my art friends are going.
Convenient Combination 🍲
Gouache, traveling, and workshops are all related. Especially for a plein air painter.
It would be great to connect with other artist who are interested in these same topics. Feel free to reach out, if any of the above resonates!