Interpretative Landscape Painting in Gouache (Online Course) Winter 2025 w/ Richard K. Blades
February 4 to March 4 (Tuesdays), 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to
students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/ivHAED5LIkA
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
Course Description
In this course, Richard will help show how gouache can be used as a powerful medium for capturing evocative and atmospheric interpretations of the landscape. A much-misunderstood medium, gouache is perfect for a variety of techniques that help convey a sense of depth and spontaneity. Working from both source material and intuitively, Richard’s techniques focus on placing atmosphere and a sense of place over detail and form.
In this course you will learn how to use a limited palette and explore how colour can be used intuitively, relying on both memory and observation to create an impression of a scene. A variety of gouache techniques will be explored including, colour mixing, layering, wet brushwork, dry brushwork, creating texture and blending.
Richard aims to help give you the tools to embrace gouache and develop a simple but idiosyncratic way of working from both memory and observation. Richard lives on the East Coast of the UK and spends much of his time walking and absorbing the colours and atmosphere of his environment, before going back to the studio to paint. Gouache is the perfect medium for his approach and this course will help give you the tools, both practically and psychologically to embrace your environment and subject matter, holistically.
Course Outline
Week 1:
We shall explore how the landscape has been interpreted with a slideshow of examples and theories from Art History. Richard will also present his work and ideas and philosophy behind his practice. A painting demonstration by Richard in which he shows the fundamentals of his approach.
Homework set.
Week 2:
Feedback on student work. Working with thumbnail sketches, we shall explore how these can be interpreted in gouache. A demonstration by Richard in which he explores a variety of gouache techniques and applications.
With a focus on colour mixing, participants will explore the use of a 3 colour primary palette
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 3:
Feedback on student work. Further exploration of colour mixing, mark making and gouache techniques in a demonstration by Richard. Using an expanded range of colours and applications, Richard will share techniques for layering and creating textures.
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 4:
Feedback on student work. Navigating the challenges of working with gouache, how to push it further and create an idiosyncratic style. A deep exploration of atmosphere and the techniques used to create it.
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 5:
Feedback on student work. Claiming gouache as a primary or secondary medium. How to scale up and how to be free from the attachment to photos and observation. Using our memory and techniques learned we will create a spontaneous work during an extended painting time after a demonstration by Richard.
Course Materials List
Traditional gouache paint (Not Acrylic gouache). Richard recommends these brands of gouache; Winsor & Newton, Holbein, and Shin Han. Whilst there may be less expensive brands on the market, Artist’s quality gouache by these recognised brands is essential.
Richard will be using the following colours by Winsor & Newton and Holbein
Ultramarine Blue (Winsor & Newton PB29)
Primary Red (Winsor & Newton PR170/PR173)
Cadmium Yellow (Winsor & Newton PY35/PO20)
Cadmium Orange (Winsor & Newton PY35/PR108)
Burnt Sienna (Winsor & Newton PY42)
Raw Sienna (Winsor & Newton PY42)
Cobalt Turquoise (Holbein PB28)
Permanent White (Winsor & Newton PW6)
Surface
Richard use’s Hot Press or smoother watercolour paper along with Cresent Art Board, Hot press, off white
Brushes
A mix of Bristle and Synthetic bristle brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
A great synthetic bristle brush brand is Bristlene by Pro Arte
Ideal Sizes and shapes
Round 12/6/4
Flat 10/6
Tools
Palette Knife, RGM 4 or 44
Masking tape
Water spray diffuser
Palette
Pencil
Water pot
February 4 to March 4 (Tuesdays), 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to
students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/ivHAED5LIkA
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
Course Description
In this course, Richard will help show how gouache can be used as a powerful medium for capturing evocative and atmospheric interpretations of the landscape. A much-misunderstood medium, gouache is perfect for a variety of techniques that help convey a sense of depth and spontaneity. Working from both source material and intuitively, Richard’s techniques focus on placing atmosphere and a sense of place over detail and form.
In this course you will learn how to use a limited palette and explore how colour can be used intuitively, relying on both memory and observation to create an impression of a scene. A variety of gouache techniques will be explored including, colour mixing, layering, wet brushwork, dry brushwork, creating texture and blending.
Richard aims to help give you the tools to embrace gouache and develop a simple but idiosyncratic way of working from both memory and observation. Richard lives on the East Coast of the UK and spends much of his time walking and absorbing the colours and atmosphere of his environment, before going back to the studio to paint. Gouache is the perfect medium for his approach and this course will help give you the tools, both practically and psychologically to embrace your environment and subject matter, holistically.
Course Outline
Week 1:
We shall explore how the landscape has been interpreted with a slideshow of examples and theories from Art History. Richard will also present his work and ideas and philosophy behind his practice. A painting demonstration by Richard in which he shows the fundamentals of his approach.
Homework set.
Week 2:
Feedback on student work. Working with thumbnail sketches, we shall explore how these can be interpreted in gouache. A demonstration by Richard in which he explores a variety of gouache techniques and applications.
With a focus on colour mixing, participants will explore the use of a 3 colour primary palette
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 3:
Feedback on student work. Further exploration of colour mixing, mark making and gouache techniques in a demonstration by Richard. Using an expanded range of colours and applications, Richard will share techniques for layering and creating textures.
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 4:
Feedback on student work. Navigating the challenges of working with gouache, how to push it further and create an idiosyncratic style. A deep exploration of atmosphere and the techniques used to create it.
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 5:
Feedback on student work. Claiming gouache as a primary or secondary medium. How to scale up and how to be free from the attachment to photos and observation. Using our memory and techniques learned we will create a spontaneous work during an extended painting time after a demonstration by Richard.
Course Materials List
Traditional gouache paint (Not Acrylic gouache). Richard recommends these brands of gouache; Winsor & Newton, Holbein, and Shin Han. Whilst there may be less expensive brands on the market, Artist’s quality gouache by these recognised brands is essential.
Richard will be using the following colours by Winsor & Newton and Holbein
Ultramarine Blue (Winsor & Newton PB29)
Primary Red (Winsor & Newton PR170/PR173)
Cadmium Yellow (Winsor & Newton PY35/PO20)
Cadmium Orange (Winsor & Newton PY35/PR108)
Burnt Sienna (Winsor & Newton PY42)
Raw Sienna (Winsor & Newton PY42)
Cobalt Turquoise (Holbein PB28)
Permanent White (Winsor & Newton PW6)
Surface
Richard use’s Hot Press or smoother watercolour paper along with Cresent Art Board, Hot press, off white
Brushes
A mix of Bristle and Synthetic bristle brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
A great synthetic bristle brush brand is Bristlene by Pro Arte
Ideal Sizes and shapes
Round 12/6/4
Flat 10/6
Tools
Palette Knife, RGM 4 or 44
Masking tape
Water spray diffuser
Palette
Pencil
Water pot
February 4 to March 4 (Tuesdays), 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to
students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/ivHAED5LIkA
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
Course Description
In this course, Richard will help show how gouache can be used as a powerful medium for capturing evocative and atmospheric interpretations of the landscape. A much-misunderstood medium, gouache is perfect for a variety of techniques that help convey a sense of depth and spontaneity. Working from both source material and intuitively, Richard’s techniques focus on placing atmosphere and a sense of place over detail and form.
In this course you will learn how to use a limited palette and explore how colour can be used intuitively, relying on both memory and observation to create an impression of a scene. A variety of gouache techniques will be explored including, colour mixing, layering, wet brushwork, dry brushwork, creating texture and blending.
Richard aims to help give you the tools to embrace gouache and develop a simple but idiosyncratic way of working from both memory and observation. Richard lives on the East Coast of the UK and spends much of his time walking and absorbing the colours and atmosphere of his environment, before going back to the studio to paint. Gouache is the perfect medium for his approach and this course will help give you the tools, both practically and psychologically to embrace your environment and subject matter, holistically.
Course Outline
Week 1:
We shall explore how the landscape has been interpreted with a slideshow of examples and theories from Art History. Richard will also present his work and ideas and philosophy behind his practice. A painting demonstration by Richard in which he shows the fundamentals of his approach.
Homework set.
Week 2:
Feedback on student work. Working with thumbnail sketches, we shall explore how these can be interpreted in gouache. A demonstration by Richard in which he explores a variety of gouache techniques and applications.
With a focus on colour mixing, participants will explore the use of a 3 colour primary palette
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 3:
Feedback on student work. Further exploration of colour mixing, mark making and gouache techniques in a demonstration by Richard. Using an expanded range of colours and applications, Richard will share techniques for layering and creating textures.
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 4:
Feedback on student work. Navigating the challenges of working with gouache, how to push it further and create an idiosyncratic style. A deep exploration of atmosphere and the techniques used to create it.
Painting time.
Homework set.
Week 5:
Feedback on student work. Claiming gouache as a primary or secondary medium. How to scale up and how to be free from the attachment to photos and observation. Using our memory and techniques learned we will create a spontaneous work during an extended painting time after a demonstration by Richard.
Course Materials List
Traditional gouache paint (Not Acrylic gouache). Richard recommends these brands of gouache; Winsor & Newton, Holbein, and Shin Han. Whilst there may be less expensive brands on the market, Artist’s quality gouache by these recognised brands is essential.
Richard will be using the following colours by Winsor & Newton and Holbein
Ultramarine Blue (Winsor & Newton PB29)
Primary Red (Winsor & Newton PR170/PR173)
Cadmium Yellow (Winsor & Newton PY35/PO20)
Cadmium Orange (Winsor & Newton PY35/PR108)
Burnt Sienna (Winsor & Newton PY42)
Raw Sienna (Winsor & Newton PY42)
Cobalt Turquoise (Holbein PB28)
Permanent White (Winsor & Newton PW6)
Surface
Richard use’s Hot Press or smoother watercolour paper along with Cresent Art Board, Hot press, off white
Brushes
A mix of Bristle and Synthetic bristle brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
A great synthetic bristle brush brand is Bristlene by Pro Arte
Ideal Sizes and shapes
Round 12/6/4
Flat 10/6
Tools
Palette Knife, RGM 4 or 44
Masking tape
Water spray diffuser
Palette
Pencil
Water pot