Capture spring coastal scenes

Coastal scenery is wonderfully diverse, so selecting a suitable subject should never be too difficult. Water provides the painter with a variety of challenges, such as sparkling light in an early morning or evening scene, reflections, calm tranquil seas and rising mist. The search for new, demanding subjects and the ability to interpret them with imagination should be enough to attract any painter.

What is gouache

Gouache is basically an opaque watercolour. The paint is colour, plus a solid white pigment such as chalk, water, and a binding agent, such as gum arabic. Gouache has a matt, velvety texture that results in a smooth, solid appearance. It can be compared to acrylic as it is mostly used as an opaque medium, although it requires some skill when over painting as, even when dry, it is easily disturbed by subsequent washes and layering. Being water based it is best suited for painting on paper,