More Gouache Studies

I'm still working with gouache and trying to get the hang of it (and also figure out which brushes are going to work best for me). I went to my very favorite spot this afternoon. It's technically a boat ramp, but its basically a small beach, a mix of stone and sand, where two small rivers converge. It's glorious. Mr. Darcy and I hung out and celebrated (FINALLY) the end of my book project. It was amazing to have a Monday where the only thing due was my invoice. It felt marvelous. I've been celebrating with farm stand ice cream, modest sleeps in, and a bit more gouache painting.

The one above and to the side are what I did this afternoon. I also went out in a lovely evening yesterday and painted a scene I've been wanting to do all spring. Never paint your crushes. I couldn't get what I had been hoping to, but I also got a number of photos to supplement the study and will probably do an oil of this one when I get home. I'm still learning, and truthfully I've only done a dozen or so gouache studies, so I know they will get better. I'm looking forward to trying this more painterly style in Paris next month. I've done watercolors there for three years, and I'm looking forward to trying something different.