Opaque Or Not T'opaque

I have been working more with gouache lately, and decided to create an opaque/transparent demo.

Gouache is a water-based media, and can be used the same way as watercolor, but is best used (in my opinion) for flat, graphic paintings with very bright colors. Sometimes you can use both media in the same painting, depending on your style and what it is you want to do.
As you can see in the middle of the cup (above), I used a washy technique similar to watercolor by laying down a wet wash and letting colors intermingle. If you look at the top of the cup where the plants grow, you'll notice an effect that is unique to opaque techniques, where you can lay down the dark tone first, then create highlights on top without having the darker paint show through.

you can work with a similar color-palette with both your watercolors and gouaches (or other media, such as acrylic or oil), but I tend to change my style from media to media. In gouache, for example, my colors become brighter and more chunky. In watercolor, my colors tend to become more monochromatic and ghostly.

Here is a side-by-side comparison between gouache and watercolor, painting the same object. On the left is the gouache painting. On the right the watercolor, with some wax-crayon added for the highlights, to prevent the paint from darkening those areas.
In the gouache painting, there's no need for the wax crayon for keeping areas light, because I can just add the highlights with the lighter paint on top.
The different techniques create a different "feel" and mood. It's very helpful to experiment with an opaque tool after you've been working with transparent media for a while, as it can change the way  you are thinking and your process.

I am also sketching a lot outdoors. I try to sketch every day, at least once a day. It has definitely been easy to find what to draw with this crazy spring!  But even without a beautiful season, you can always sketch the people and objects around you, your thoughts, characters from your imaginations, typography etc. As long as you do it as often as you can, it will be very beneficial to your art practice.
I like to use paint in my sketchbooks, and add color whenever I can. This helps me study color and develop more sophisticated color palettes.

In other news, I have finally been coerced by my friends to join Instagram. So far, I found it to be a really easy way to post process and art on the go. I must say, I am a little addicted!

If you have Instagram, you can follow me: jkroik  I post there often. I will still create posts in this blog as I can add a written description of different techniques and ideas for where to start from when you sit down to work.

Happy painting! 

P.S.: Don't leave your brush face down in the water cup like I did in this picture! 
It will make your brush lose its shape. Bad example from me! :)