Master study in gouache

Gouache is a tricky medium; it's amazing the value changes a tile of color can go through after you've applied it. It's easy for things to appear chalky, especially out of context or if you aren't completely controlling the hue, value, and chroma of your colors consistently. Many of my gouache experiments have more of the " ugly" stage than any other mediums I've used.

This is a step towards decency, but I'm still fighting the medium, not actually using it. Currently I'm just treating the painting as oils, glazing in darks with transparent inks, and building up layers of progressively thicker, up to impasto lights.

Master study after Rembrandt. App 8x11". gouache and brown and black in on paper.