( Submitted by Carolyn Shushelski/Wally Lush)
To the east the Toronto skyline provided a striking background. In a small cove white swans basked in the sunshine and ducks floated peacefully along the water’s edge. Sunbathers relaxed on the sandy beach, children paddled on the lake in their brightly coloured canoes, and others leisurely strolled along the boardwalk.
It was an enjoyable day at Toronto’s vibrant lake shore!
(Submitted by Wally Lush)
Grange Park had a variety of things to paint and see. There were fountains, wading pools, fascinating old trees, sculpture, and even an old ruin of a church. Half a dozen people made the trek down and were delighted to see such a variety of choices. The day was warm and sunny, but there was a cool breeze that kept everyone happy.
(Submitted by Wally Lush)
The ferry, like time, waits for no man it seems. Missed the one I wanted to take to Centre Island and walked to meet everyone – and walked, and walked. Got to the Sunshine Center for Seniors and had a much needed coffee then scouted painting locations. I missed the gang that was there – 5 more I hear. But they had a successful day at least. Better luck next time.
(Submitted by Wally Lush)
On a very windy, drizzly, cold morning three of us showed up to make art. We quickly decided that setting up easels in the nasty weather was a bad idea but we could wander and take reference photos. So that’s what we did. Here are a few of them. Perhaps one will become a painting. Better luck next time.
This Friday was very popular with record attendance for a Friday Night Club presenter. It might have been because Linda Montgomery is an award-winning illustrator, a reputable OCAD instructor and a very amiable presenter coupled with the promise of free goodies from Liquitex.
We had a surprise visit by Jacklyn Rosenblat-Gwartzman, proprietor of the celebrated Gwartzman’s Art Supplies on Spadina Avenue in Toronto and a supplier of Liquitex products. She shared the sad news of her father’s passing in February and offered discount coupons for members visiting her store, where they could pick up loot bags.
This evening Linda talked about some new and improved products, namely acrylic gouache and soft bodied acrylic paint, acrylic inks etc.
Softbody
This low viscosity professional acrylic paint gives excellent coverage, a satin finish and high levels of artist-quality pigment for archival brilliance.
It is very versatile and can be used to paint, pour, glaze or print on almost any surface.
While many artists may think soft bodied is just a watered-down version of heavy body, Linda explained that the two paints have compatible binders and have the same pigment load. You just have to choose the right consistency for your project. It only makes sense to choose and softer consistency with some mediums like pouring medium. Conversely, one might be best to use heavy bodied paint when using pastes or heavy gel medium.
Acrylic Gouache
Gouache, body color, opaque watercolor, or gouache, is one type of water media, paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent, and sometimes additional inert material. Gouache is designed to be used with opaque methods of painting.
A primary difference between water colour and gouache paints is that gouache is more opaque than watercolor. The opacity of gouache comes from the white pigment or chalk that is added along with the colored pigment and binder in order to make it less transparent.
Gouache is very comparable to both acrylic paint and watercolor paint but is its own entity. Gouache paint is opaque but becomes translucent when water is added. While gouache paint is similar to water color paint, it is different in that it’s more pigmented, is heavier, and provides more of a texture when painting
Acrylic gouache provides the most intense colors, a flat, matte effect, no brush strokes, no cracks and no need to dilute.
Superb fluidity and application, all with a permanent, water-resistant finish when dry.
Another feature of the above products was the new squeezable bottle with a spout that can be cut to allow for heavier application of the paint.
Linda answered many questions verbally and with a demonstration and eliciting audience participation. She brought many samples of the properties of each medium and clearly has a penchant for art instruction.
This was not Linda’s first visit to DVAC we hope it will not be the last.
Further information about Liquitex can be found at
