Category: Gouache

Faber-Castell Mandala Stencils

I love working with stencils. Drawing geometric designs tends to take my mind off of everything else because it requires so much concentration. The stencil below took about 45 minutes to complete. While I was working on it, I thought of nothing other than drawing the tiny, thin lines. I used Faber-Castell Pitt pens in XS and S.

The stencil I chose tonight.

Faber-Castell makes uniquely-designed stencils. They are very precise but they are made out of cardstock – not the plastic I’m used to working with. Even if you tape them securely with painter’s tape, they can still lift up while you are drawing. This could cause messy, uneven lines so you have to be very careful when using them.

Closeup of the stencil.

Regardless, they are so fun to use! I recommend them to anyone who likes zoning out while stenciling and coloring. They are a great way to break a creative block or just to try out new supplies.

Closeup of the finished line work. As you can see, there were a few places where the stencil lifted up.

I’m using Arteza gouache to paint it. The opacity is a wonderful way to hide any line mishaps. It’s going to take awhile to paint, but I’m enjoying it!

Caran d’Ache Gouache Review

I’ve never owned a set of gouache but, based on a glowing recommendation, I decided to purchase a 15-color set of Caran d’Ache Classic Gouache. As soon as I opened the package, it was love at first sight. The presentation is beautiful.

The set comes with 14 colors of gouache and a tube of white. They include a size 8 synthetic brush which I liked very much. There are also 5 large wells on the lid for mixing.

The only qualm I have with the presentation was the absence of color names on the pans. It required a bit of research to identify the colors. The pans include the product numbers on the side in very small print, so I had to find the official chart with corresponding color names.

Caran d’Ache Gouache color chart.

Before I did swatches, I labeled my pans with the information I found for easy identification when I am painting.

My swatches.

I found the pigment information on Wet Canvas which will be helpful when mixing colors. Note that they call product number 090 “Magenta” while the official name is “Purple.”

The Verdict: This is a very useful, versatile set of paints. It contains warm primaries consisting of Yellow (010), Vermilion (060), and Ultramarine (140). There are also cool primaries: Lemon Yellow (240), Purple (090), and Carmine (080). These colors alone will give you a wide range of hues. I anticipate the other colors in the set will produce lovely mixes as well.

Caran d’Ache does it again. I was never very interested in gouache, but I certainly am now.