Читать книгу Oh My Gouache! - Zoë Ingram - Страница 12

Here’s a handy list of some other things you might find helpful to have in your work area. Some, like old jam jars, you’re likely to find around your home. Others you may like to buy especially.

 Sketchbook – for trying out colour combinations, mark making and sketching ideas.

 Masking fluid – to mask off areas that you want to keep unpainted.

 Artist’s masking tape – as above, but can give you a lovely straight edge or create a white frame around the paper.

 Pencils – for sketching or for drawing in details to finish off your painting. You’ll need some lighter colours and maybe a white china marker pencil for darker backgrounds (see Techniques: Dark Backgrounds).

 Erasers – to get rid of any stray lines once the painting is finished or for tidying up your sketches.

 Gloss – Gouache paintings can get damaged if splashed accidentally with water, so you can seal your finished painting with a gloss medium or spray fixative. I tend not to do this, as brushing a wet gloss or varnish over gouache can have the same effect as adding water, lifting the paint and possibly smudging it and ruining the painting. Also, be aware that if you add gloss, the colours may shift slightly with the extra layer.

 Scanner – If you’re going to edit your paintings in any way, be it colour adjustments or removing white backgrounds, you’ll need a scanner to transfer the painting to your computer.

 Hairdryer – Although gouache tends to dry very quickly, especially if you’re in a warmer climate, a hair dryer can help to speed up the drying process in between layers of paint if you’re in a hurry.

 Scissors/craft knife – Tools for cutting paper are handy to have if you like to use collage in your work.

 Cutting mat – Using a cutting mat makes cutting paper safer and will prevent damage to other surfaces.

 A board, gummed tape and watercolour paper – if you decide to try stretching your own paper.

 Jars – Water jars are essential. I like to use old, cleaned-out jam jars and have a big stash of them! If you know you’re going to be painting a large amount of the same colour, or need to mix up a few colours in larger quantities, it’s handy to have little pots with lids to keep the paint airtight. This stops it from drying out and you won’t have lots of waste. I use old glass spice jars that I’ve cleaned out, but you could also use little plastic takeaway containers or small glass jars.

 Paper towel – I lay my brushes down flat on a paper towel after I’ve rinsed them to prevent the water running down into the handles, which would ruin the brushes over time. Paper towel is also good for wiping off excess paint from your brushes.