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My Blue Heaven in Pink by Susan Marie Brundage on zatista.com

When talking about art media, gouache (rhymes with squash) is one such medium that doesn’t always come up in conversation. However, gouache has a rich history and deserves attention.

Williamsburg Bank Building #1 by David Hoffman on zatista.com

What is Gouache, you ask? Gouache is a suspension of pigment in water, but unlike watercolors, it is thicker and more opaque. Because it is heavy and chalky it does not absorb into paper and has excellent coverage. When using gouache, light colors tend to dry darker and dark colors tend to dry lighter. Because of this, subsequent color matching is difficult. Gouache is sometimes referred to as ‘bodycolor‘ by art historians, and the two terms are often interchanged.

The Watcher by Sharon Sieben on zatista.com

Gouache has been used by artists throughout the ages and masters such as Albrecht Durer, Georges Rouault, and Henri Matisse all created masterpieces using gouache.

Young Hare by Albrecht Durer on wikipedia.org

Young Hare, created in 1502 by German artist Albrecht Durer, is a mix of watercolor and gouache. This piece highlights Durer’s technical skill with both mediums. By building up a wash of watercolor and then adding fine details in gouache on top of this, he was able to give the fur a deep layered look.

Blue Nude With Hair In Wind by Henri Matisse on henri-matisse.net

The figures in Henri Matisse’s Blue Nude decoupage series are gouache-painted paper cut-outs which have been stuck to paper then mounted on canvas. These simple and elegant forms were created towards the end of Matisse’s life in 1952 while the artist’s health was poor, yet they remain some of his most recognizable works. French expressionist and friend of Matisse, Georges Rouault, often mixed gouache with watercolor and oil and the end results are colorful and vibrant.

Tea Ceremony by Susan Ulrich on zatista.com

Today, gouache is favored by many artists in the advertising field, both for its ease of use, reworking ability, and the fact that the colors photograph well and reproduce true. Needless to say, gouache has been around for a long time and evidently it’s here to stay.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

"Williamsburg Bank Building #1" by David Hoffman on Zatista.com

I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge that it’s 5:08 PM and it’s still light out. OK, it’s not summer or anything, but still, there’s something to be said for that. As I have indicated before here on Wall Spin, I’m slightly sunset obsessed – call me cliché. Spring makes me want to expand my aesthetic advocacy to twilight, too.

"Nirvana" by Lido Photography on Zatista.com

No, I certainly don’t mean the cult of vampire personality that goes by the same name. (I’m not necessarily a fan, but my teenage nieces have fostered my appreciation for the “finer points” of the books and films.) I’m talking about the gray-blue hours around the sunset – some of nature’s best entertainment.

"A Twilight Moment" by Maryann Cleary on Zatista.com

Sure, it happens every day – but during winter and now spring, we really notice those extra minutes of light. They mean so much: longer days, warmer weather and more time to enjoy the outdoors. I think that’s why I find myself wanting to hold onto twilight each day – to pause time and appreciate the promise of what’s to come.

"Oko 10101" by Lana Bernberg on Zatista.com

Fortunately, I can rely on a few great artists (wink, wink) to press pause and make twilight last forever.

"Returning Home" by Ross Sachs on Zatista.com

Take a moment to drink in the beauty of twilight with me, here on Zatista.
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"To Market" by Bonnie Jones on Zatista.com

Yesterday I arrived at my local farmer’s market to find one of my favorite young farmers calling out like a carnival barker. “This is it people! It’s go time! Get it while it’s good!” he shouted, smiling over the fruits (and veggies) of his labor.

"Hot Tomato" by Ann Painter on Zatista.com

I looked around and realized he was speaking the truth (ever earnest, he’s hardly one to spin a yarn). Everywhere I looked crates were stacked high with perfect vegetables, all color and gleam at high noon. Here in Maine where I live the growing season is mercilessly short–June to October more or less–and that means that by mid-August we’re in full harvest mode.

"Radishes" by Konnie Kim on Zatista.com

How could it be? How could the few short weeks of blushing tomatoes and luscious summer melons be upon us already? It’s a stark realization every year, but this year I have a new tactic.

"Peppers" by Tony Dunphy on Zatista.com

Sure, I’m going to stack my freezer high and gear up for some canning, but I’m also going to load up on some harvest art for the “less accommodating” months ahead. That way, at least my eyes can feast on some fresh local veggies when I get the trucked-in-from-California-or-grown-indoors blues. The color will do my place good, too, and remind me that once upon a time I drank iced coffee and wore shorts and worked up a sweat walking bags of fresh produce home in the hot summer sun.