My watercolor plus class is working on a gouache resist for their next assignment. I was introduced to this form af art by another blogger I follow here. I posted a tutorial of this technique here.
The first image is the resist once I wash off the ink. The second image is after I watercolor the resist. I like these even though they are time consuming to do. I never know what I am going to get.
Leslie White 
50 Comments
Wow, the foliage is spectacular! The little boat and figure also look really great. The water is probably my least favorite part but even that looks very cool. Really though, I just love those trees and plants along the water’s edge.
I’m not even going to go back and look at that tutorial because I will want to do it but I am trying to get to genius level in one thing! Ok, so I’m never going to get to genius level, but I can strive for it. 😉
You are so funny! I think you do great with your copic markers! You are genius!
Thank you for this comment,Cindy!
Worth the time spent.. remarkable art Leslie.. thanks for the links!
Thank you, Padmaja!
This looks wonderful. I have marked this as yet another to learn. ( I’m on a flower kick right now, determined to get the right balance of lightness and contrast, yet keep it as a watercolor) Thanks for the instruction plus PearlArt another wonderful site to visit and learn from. Happy Thanksgiving!
This would be a good technique to try during the summer months, Louise, because you can use the hose outdoors to quickly wash off the resist.
I think you are doing an wonderful job with painting the flowers!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
What a great image. I especially like the splash of red to draw your attention to the fisherman in the mosaic detail of foliage. Nice work Leslie!
You caught me! The red had to be there. Guess it could have been orange. I thought the fisherman and the boat got kind of lost in the background foliage. Yay for red! 🙂 Thanks, Ryan (the fisherman).
Hi Leslie! You’ve posted a lot since I was here looking the last time. And they’re all good, of course. Glad to see you’re keeping it up. I’ll try to come around more often, I’m just a bit busy these days (or should I say months) getting used to the whole being a mother of two thing.. Hope you are doing good!
Hi Stranger! 🙂
Congratulations on your second, Camilla! Thank you for the visit, comment and for letting me know you posted. 🙂
Oh yeah…those gorgeous gorilla. Or is it gorillas? Never know with animals.
That is such a lush forest with a remarkable detail of leaves. However, that leads me to a question, Leslie. Why go through all of these stages in the first place? Is it to give lift and life to the painting? Is that how the leaves ended up with such detail?
Please forgive me if you explained this elsewhere and I’ve forgotten!
I think it’s gorillas.
You ask the best questions, Amy. I don’t think I do this resist method to make my work better. I think it is just an example of an exploration into another technique where I can use watercolor in another way or with another medium. When I try new things, I see new things and it broadens my vision, increases my “bag of tricks”, and helps me to understand there are more ways to describe something. I like this exercise because it teaches me to look for darks and lights and even helps me with my perception and skill in rendering negative space. What I like about these is the “surprise factor” when I wash off the ink and I like the block print look.
The other reason I try new things is because my students are varied in their interests and I want to give everyone something they might like enough to pursue furthur.
…and it’s fun. 🙂
Thank you!
I really like both very much, even though the B&W one was not the finished piece. Both are so graphic and strong. The lines in the water work wonderfully against the oval shapes of the foliage. Beautiful!
I liked the black and white of this one, also, Carol. I debated leaving it black and white but it did not hold up from 10 feet away. I could not see the fisherman or the boat. That was why I went ahead and painted it. I have another I am going to post next week that I have decided not to paint. I like it black and white. Great pbservation! Thank you for that comment about water and foliage. The contrast was what I was going for!
Love it… The technique, the perspective, the movement
Hi Jerri!
Thank you for this comment. Miss you in class! 🙂
Oh Leslie! You are going to keep me busy for a year practicing new techniques! I love this method. It resembles, to me anyway :), a tapestry. I read through your tutorial. It seems simple as long as you let the stages dry. Did you use India ink? Would brown walnut ink work do you think?
Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh, don’t you worry, Nanina! At some point, there will be time for all of it. 🙂 I love this method, too. It is just another open door to explore imagery through. It is simple if you follow each step and be patient and wait for each layer to dry. The gouache takes longer than watercolor to dry. The ink takes longer than that. Yes, I use waterproof india ink. I think brown walnut ink will work as long as it is waterproof. I had a student do a piece in waterproof colored inks. It ended up looking very close to a watercolor, however. The darker ink is what makes it look closer to a block print. When you get to the final stage and apply the watercolor, it comes out more opaque because there is still some residue from the gouache that mixes with the watercolor and some of the ink still mixes in. Be careful in the process of washing and wiping down the rinse phase of the ink. Go at it gently at first. You’ll see and get a feel for it very quickly. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Thanks for the added information. I understand how the dark ink influences the image…gives this technique its unique look. The first time I try this, I’ll use india ink. And I appreciate the direction to be gentle, otherwise I would probably scrub away at it 😀
I love this, Leslie! I even love the black and white one! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend!
Hi Beth! I was just over your way commenting on your laundryman’s masterpiece. Love it!
I liked the black and white of this, also, but the man and boat were too hidden in the foliage and decided to go ahead and paint it. Thank you! …and Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Leslie, I just wanted to stop in and say how Thankful I am for all your help, friendship, motivation, and kind comments that you have given me in the past few years. Happy Thanksgiving and have a safe Holiday season.
I am just heading out and saw this, Ryan. 🙂 Thank you. You know I feel the same. Happy Thanksgiving, neighbor!
Beautiful technique I love both stages. I remember the gorilla the colours are wonderful. If only I could attend one of your classes Leslie.
Thank you, Keith! 🙂 It would be fun to get together and share what each of us does and not have to rely on typed words and internet visions, but am glad for the sharing we all do through our art blogs. It would be a treat for me to just be able to watch you draw!
Oh wow… love the color version. The green leaves against the red t-shirt makes beautiful contrast.
Had to have the red to even locate that lone fisherman in all that green, Anne. 🙂 Thank you!
This technique is so interesting and beautiful!
Happy Thanksgiving
Marinela
Thank you for this Thanksgiving wish and comment, Marinela!
I like the painting and the technique, Leslie, although I think I might get confused in putting down the gouache. I agree that the boatman gets a little lost in the black and white but the red shirt is perfect.
Oh, Ruth, I get confused with putting down the goauche, also. I have to divorce myself from the reference material, some, as I do it. It is difficult to see forward. I like surprises, so I think that is why this works for me. Thank you!
i like the B&W the best you need to look twice before you see the boat which makes it special
Excellent observation! Kind of a hidden surprise. I think that is why I waited before deciding to paint this particular one. I am posting another, tonight, that I am not painting, just because I like the black and white so much. Thank you, Clegyrboia!
Leslie, Thank you for continually reminding us of different methods and techniques. I have not tried this one yet. It creates really interesting paintings so I still want to give it a try. Your students must learn a lot and feel very lucky to have access to your experience and interest in growth. Very nice work!
Hi Linda,
Thank you for this comment. I try to look for new ways and media to use with watercolor for my watercolor plus classes. I have artists who return to learn and to practice all these different techniques. I like to think that there are some techniques that just really work for individual artists and would like to give them the exposure to these things in the event they find something they can take forward and make “work” for them. I like this technique because it “is” so different and carries an element of surprise with each and every one of them.
Oh I remember this technique! Fascinating. I really love how it adds such depth to the scene.
Me too, Amber. There is something very stark and straight forward about the finished product when doing these. Thank you! 🙂
I am loving this tutorial on automatic drawing. The results are so fluid and beautiful. So glad I happened upon your blog! Can’t wait to try this technique.
Thanks
–Tess
Why, thank you, tessf! Are you referring to this post? https://lesliepaints.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/automatic-drawings/
I seem to jump from one technique to the other due to my class schedule but want to return to doing more of them myself. It is fascinating to see what one can come up with without the aid of reference material. Thank you for the comment and the visit! 🙂
hmmm how did i get to this page? 🙂 anyway it was the one where you had examples of your work. ..let’s see something about a dream of art maybe? at any rate, it was great stuff. just loved the spirituality feel of it. 🙂
Wow, love the result. You’re so creative everytime!!! I’d like to visit your blog more often but that’s just so difficult for me to find time. 🙂 Anyway. I love your art!!!
Have a super great weekend, Leslie!
Thank you, Cha! I have had a bit of a time problem this fall and winter, also. Completely understood.
dots and slashes… of course, i like! 🙂 wonderful movement in this…
You are right! I had not thought of that in relation to your blog and pointillism, JRuth! Anyone who follows comments may want to jump over to your blog here: http://pointillistponderings.com/ Your understanding of the “dot” is fantastic!
Thank you for the visit and the comment. 🙂
Love the foliage and the movement of the water, Leslie. I like the man in the boat too… I guess I love it all.!
Thank you, Debbie. 🙂
I like them both, but I’m completely happy with the black and white. I suppose that’s the amateur eye that I am.
I’m smiling. Not amateur eye. The boat and man show up in this digital image and when you stand within six feet of the piece. It doesn’t show up across the room. I think is this were to be an illustration in a book, I’dopt for the black and white. Good eye! …and thank you!
This has a nice effect. I like the contrast between the water and the trees. The composition, technique, and colors make me think of the “arts and crafts” style of art. Peaceful place to rest ones eyes.
That peaceful place is right across from your home. I think this is your neighbor across the way! Thank you “Sis”! 🙂
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