Chan Dissanayake shares some favorite tips and tricks for painting with gouache:

Here’s a Q&A with Chan:

Why do you make art?

It’s my passion; an impulse to have a dialogue with nature. It’s a pure addiction to create and record my impression of what I see and feel.

How long have you been painting?

I have been painting over 20 years.

Did you have formal art training?

No, I was qualified in software engineering, but my heart was in art.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?

I’m a professional artist and teacher.

What inspires you?

My inspiration is mother nature, but I have many heroes who inspire me, such as John Singer Sargent and Edward Seago, both of whom painted in oils and watercolor.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?

None, my work requires intense concentration. I do like to listen to music while I’m not painting though.

Have you had a mentor?

No, but I’ve worked with many master artists, and I’ve studied many masters of the past.

Do you paint every day?

Yes, if not painting and teaching, then designing and drawing is part of my daily practice.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?

I like to paint alla prima and finish a painting in one sitting. I like to keep paintings fresh and respond to the spontaneous energy of creating.

Do you create a concept piece first?

I do many preliminary studies – compositional, tonal and color – before the painting. I always say, “if we fail to plan, then we are planning to fail.”

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?

I do about 60% of my work en plein air. That’s where most of my learning and exploring happens. However, I do take photographs and use them in the studio for more planned out work. But I only use references that I have shot, I don’t use other people’s photos.

How many core colors do you use?

I use a very limited palette – basically, a warm and cool of each primary, totaling 6 colors.

Tubes, pans or sticks?

I always use tubes. I like the moist paint so I can fully load the brush.

When do you know that your piece is finished?

After so many years of painting, I now know to stop before I “finish.” The way I teach my students is that an artist paints 60% of the work, they let the medium paint 30% and then leave 10% to the viewer’s imagination.

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