Lena Rivo's Painting Blog

I have to apologize for my blog's behavior - it sometimes sends the same posts out for several times... I am working on moving the blog to another platform that hopefully will not have this issue. I painted this cyclamen in my studio from life. I had to work really fast in order to capture the fast moving light and the warmth of this scene. My love gouache is always the right medium for this kind of tasks!  Gouache on thick gray paper, 9 x 11 in.  Available at lenarivo.etsy.com 

I like to be at home, in my studio, my comfortable zone, but when the weather is nice I always have to force myself  to go to paint to a location. Because I know I need to. Because I know no photo can capture the spirit of summer, the summer that won't last long. I also know that gouache will never let me down and I will definitely be able to take a piece of the summer with me in my watercolor pad.

My third and fourth studies from July 8   Gouache on Saunders Waterford 140 lb NOT paper

My second study from July 8.  Gouache on Saunders Waterford 140 lb NOT paper

     EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOUACHE FREE GUIDE What is your color palette? How do you store your gouache? How do you keep your gouache moist? What kind of brushes do you use?   These are some of the questions I get asked almost every day. So to make it easier to share this information with those of you who are interested in gouache I decided to combine all my answers to the questions I get on a regular basis in one place. I have created a 20 page PDF in which I am covering all my painting equipment in detail. You can get the PDF by the link below. I hope you find the information helpful.  Gouache Painting Supplies PDF    

Something very special has been happening to me this summer.   I think I completely fell in love with gouache.       Gouache, July 8 Gouache, July 8 #1

This is a frame from my recent video tutorial in which I am painting on the beach and explaining my approach to plein air painting and why these little studies are so important to do.