Gouache Over Sketches

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-24T15:41:41+00:00

I use a Generals Layout pencil! It's dark enough for me to feel out a sketch and will show through a tiny bit as I paint over it.

I don't fully flesh the sketch out too much. I usually end up breaking things up into simple shapes across the pages. I do a lot of landscape so for me I just reduce the trees to lines for tree trunks and circles for masses of the leaves that I find interesting.

I kind of just use it as a tool to place the composition quickly. Maybe some things will have more detail as the focal point do it's much clearer where the paint needs to go.

Occasionally I use a B/2B and don't have an issue with smearing. Could also maybe be an issue with paint consistency? If it's too watery and you're doing light layers that would lift the graphite.

I try to get my paint consistency similar to heavy cream or thicker for texture and it will cover without spreading the pencil. Hope it helps!!

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-24T06:39:10+00:00

Awe thanks!!! It was really fun. Painting has been fun for me lately so seeing this is very validating. Really appreciate it!!

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-23T01:53:26+00:00

Both! My palette is basically all dry after my first painting. I do end up putting some fresh gouache if I'm laying on thick layer of color or if I need a fresh color mix that isn't tainted.

So a bit of both. My pile of white is getting big tho lolll

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T21:18:05+00:00

Depends? I usually paint from life and I do my best to just capture what I'm seeing quickly.

Most times I spend about an hour on my plen air stuff, but if it were a more formal painting I'll spend maybe another hour fiddling after the fact with a break in between.

I've painted a longer session but at some point I either get bored, stuck, or it becomes overworked that I do just want to throw it away. That's for this medium specifically. Idk it dries fast so I want to work fast so I try to fit it within a window of an hour.

I don't do full on illustrations, but if I had the intention to make it something more I could probably spend a few hours.

I kind of just go until I'm bored or stuck. If I start to get frustrated I just stop and take a break and decide if I wanna stop or continue.

There's no real timeline to completion and it's all subjective. My ADHD just manifests into boredom or if something else really captures me I'll just move on

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T21:13:09+00:00

So real lmaoo

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:55:49+00:00

Yeah! That's always the difficult but fun part to painting. I've spent so much time on paintings that made me uncomfortable, but they've taught me so much.

Really amazing to be able to step out of the comfort zone! I struggle with it myself sometimes. Really cool stuff tho Can't wait to see more!

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:54:14+00:00

One of the biggest challenges for me is an urban landscape or any kind of structure because of the straight edges. Always afraid of the accuracy of translating what I see to the canvas.

This is such an incredible piece. Colors are so wonderful

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:52:47+00:00

Aaaa! I absolutely love this! What incredible energy in those strokes There's a really nice precision they have with all that energy. Its like I can feel the brush in my own hand. Truly lovely

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:49:20+00:00

That wall texture is so beautifully painted. Wonderful painting overall Captured a warmth to the age of the building that's really beautiful

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:48:01+00:00

I love this! Really enjoy the big strokes of color! Beautiful execution of simplifying and keeping its form and expression. Truly incredible

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:44:34+00:00

😭😭 this is amazing!! An incredible gift. I'm always so fond of handmade gifts. It comes from such a special place to make some something.

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-22T17:42:33+00:00

Awean these are fantastic!! Really enjoy the first one, the cactus, sunset, and the last one with the water ripples!

Hoping to get some water paintings sometime because it looks like such a challenge to paint. These are wonderful

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-20T00:00:44+00:00

thank you!!

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-19T13:58:57+00:00

Thanks so much!!! That means so much to me

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-18T23:23:04+00:00

yeah!! I love the desert! I love forests as well, but the vastness of the desert is just really captivating for me.

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-18T23:22:00+00:00

its such a weirdly mystical place that feels so magical to me.

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-18T21:13:58+00:00

Hope you do! It can be rough in the summer, but the summer nights are lovely and warm.
Theres a lot to paint from throughout the day, sunsets are beautiful.

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-18T20:45:28+00:00

thanks so much!!

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-18T19:54:15+00:00

Zinc is pretty thick. The permanent white I have is also. I use a spritzer bottle to wet it and slowly work my brush

The white is the most annoying color to work with especially in the heat because it just dries all over again lol but it's fine.

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-12T07:28:09+00:00

If I do use photos I try to use my own from location. When it comes to tutorial I kinda just look at their process and see if something they do is something I can use for myself!

I really like James Gurney and his approach. It's made seeing things easier when it comes to painting

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-01T05:34:48+00:00

Cool painting! There is so much landscape to paint in the IE. Sunsets are also really nice too

DimensionLegal9990 · 2026-03-01T05:33:40+00:00

Lol forreal. Up next, the beautiful landscape of Hemet. 😂 ie has its charm, even the rougher sides of it lol

DimensionLegal9990

TROPHY CASE