Tag Archives: #gouache

A Little Swatching Project That Got Out of Hand

As soon as I finished the Creative Gathering February video, I jumped right into this project. The original plan was simple: swatch my Arteza Gouache set. I ordered a set of square stencils. I pulled out a Strathmore Visual Journal, I thought it would be the perfect size for easy reference.

And then, because apparently I don’t know how to leave well enough alone. I had the ambitious idea to swatch my colored pencils and acrylics, too. Heck, why not all of my “color” supplies?

The idea was to have everything in one easy-to-reference guide. Instead of having little pieces of paper scattered here and there. It seemed like such a good idea at the time. 😂

Of course, this is going to be an ongoing project. And honestly, I probably won’t get back to swatching in the book until after the next February Gathering. There are only so many hours in a day! (It’s taken me months just to get this post up! Haha)

Swatching took MUCH longer than I expected. But the actual painting part was surprisingly meditative. And it is really helpful to see which colors are more transparent and which are more opaque & heavily pigmented.

I also printed a black-and-white copy of the swatch pages. This helps me see the values, which I still struggle to judge on my own. I can tuck the copy into the sketchbook for a quick reference when I need it.

Now, about those paint tubes…

The Arteza Gouache Paint Set of 60 comes in a HUGE box. The tubes are all tucked neatly into plastic trays, which is great for shipping and storing.

But for everyday painting? Not so much.

The sound of those plastic trays scraping against the sides of the box is as bad as cardboard scraping. Yikes! So I ordered a set of six clear 4 x 6 photo storage boxes to hold the paint tubes instead. So. Much. Better.

They snap securely, stack neatly, and I can easily see what’s where. I put my most-used colors in one box, and organized the rest by color family. No more digging through ten noisy trays!

I feel better prepared. Set-up will be easier. And there’s one less little barrier between me and actually sitting down to paint!

I already have a theme in mind for the September Creative Gathering. I think I’ll work in both gouache and watercolor. But you know me. One thing leads to another, and plans might change completely. 😉

Only 3 weeks until September’s Creative Gathering begins!

I am so looking forward to seeing you there!

Celebrating Creativity: The 8th Year of The Creative Gathering

8 Replies

A global community of artists exploring new mediums while starting the year with
creativity, curiosity, and connection.

As we begin the 8th year of The Creative Gathering, we’re celebrating another inspiring season of creativity, dedication, and community. This month, our artists collectively created and shared 588 pieces of art. This is a wonderful reflection of the passion and commitment within our global creative family.

Throughout the gathering, artists worked in a wide range of mediums. These include pencil, pen, watercolor, gouache, inks, and oils. They also used photography, mixed media, nature art, colored pencil, assemblage, and journaling. Each piece reflects a unique voice and perspective, with artists of all experience levels sharing their creativity and vision.

What makes The Creative Gathering so special is that it’s truly international. Artists from around the world come together to share not only their work, but also encouragement, ideas, and support. Beyond the art itself, the gathering fosters camaraderie and connection, reminding us that creativity thrives in a supportive community.

Artists often spend long hours working alone, which makes these moments of connection especially meaningful. We share our work and cheer one another on. We witness each other’s creative journeys. By doing so, we build relationships that enrich and reward the creative process.

Each year, participants challenge themselves to try new mediums, experiment with unfamiliar tools, explore new techniques, and learn new approaches. The Creative Gathering isn’t just about making art—it’s about growing as artists and embracing curiosity and exploration.

The gathering is also a wonderful way to start the year on a positive note. By committing to create daily for one month and sharing that work publicly, artists celebrate both discipline and courage. While some complete the full month, we believe that even showing up for part of the month is worth celebrating. Every sketch, photo, journal page, or painting represents a moment of creativity and intention.

You will want to have a seat to view the video.
It is over six minutes long! Enjoy!

To everyone who participated this year—whether you created every day or joined in when you could—congratulations. Your creativity, dedication, and willingness to share help make The Creative Gathering such a special community.

We look ahead to gathering again in September to continue our shared creative journey. Together we’ll support one another, explore new ideas, and celebrate the joy of making art. Let’s see where our creativity takes us next.

Congratulations, everyone!
And thank you again,
for sharing your exceptional work with us all.

30 Days of Gouache – What I Learned (Fun, Frustration & Growth)

2 Replies

February was fun! How can it not be, when you have fresh art supplies? Who can resist, right? For my birthday I treated myself to 2 new watercolor papers. A 5 x 7 block of Meeden hot press. And a stack of inexpensive 8 x 8 sheets. 100 sheets for $20! I also bit the bullet and ordered the Arteza set of 60 gouache box. Thankfully, it was on sale.

I thoroughly enjoyed my gouache tour. YouTube introduced me to amazing artists and I have stashed their insights in my brain. I have a lengthy gouache playlist to revisit as well.

Days 24, 25, & 26. 4 x 4 inch gouache on Arches cold press paper 140 lb., 4 x 4 in. More magenta mayhem. I intensified the color slightly. My muted mood in the first part of the series was replaced with some flash. I was having fun, playing with pattern, shapes and mark making.

Days 24 - 30 of the February 2026 Creative Gathering. © 2026 Sheila Delgado. — Days 24 – 30 of the February 2026 Creative Gathering. © 2026 Sheila Delgado.

Day 27 & 28, 5 x 7 inches. Cool blues. A bubble bath, according to Sea, Eileen and Teresa. The second reminded Diane of stained glass, and Eileen thought of a kaleidoscope. I love those descriptions.
Thanks, friends! Both are watercolor on Leyton pure cotton watercolor cold press paper 160 lb., 5 x 7 in.

Day 29, 5 x 7 inch. Golden tree, gouache on Leyton 160 lb. paper. I’ve had this idea in my head. I want to paint it large. Our neighbors across the street have a tree in their backyard. It turns gold each afternoon in the setting sun. It’s like someone turned on a bright light. Mingus turns dark blue.
I can only see the top half of the tree, I used artistic license for the rest. The dead leaves hang down in long spikes.

Day 30, Prickly Pear, 5 x 7 inch. Gouache on Leyton pure cotton watercolor cold press paper 160 lb. This was a late night, quick-as-I-can piece. I used leftover paint (there is still more on the palette). Christine Brooks gifted me the Layton block. I really love this heavier paper! It is easy to remove and it didn’t warp. It held up to multiple layers and areas of heavy paint.

The patterned pieces are mixed media. Some details were added digitally. On the cactus, the needles are digital. I really need to make a collection, and save them for future projects. LOL. Below are a few close-ups, to better see the details.

Details Days 24 - 30 — Details Days 24 – 30

Gouache is very versatile. I used several different papers, and it was wonderful on each of them. Arches, Leyton, Meeden. The less expensive performed just as well as the Arches. For the purpose of practice. And the Arteza paint seems to last. Many artists online mentioned that it takes more paint then watercolor. But I found that a small dab on the palette was enough for more than one piece.

It is true, that you use a lot of white. White adds opacity to lighter, more transparent hues. The colors mix well. They are nice and creamy when you get the water ratio right.

Tomorrow I will share the collage of all 30 pieces with you. And talk more about what I have learned. The group gallery video will be up in a few days.

Thanks so much for tracking my journey with gouache this month. I really do appreciate your suggestions and observations. So often during the daily challenge, I get caught up in just getting it done. Tunnel vision kicks in, and I forget to take time to consider other options.