Painting Nocturnes in Gouache (Online Workshop) Fall 2026 w/ Mike Hernandez

September 3 to September 17 (Thursdays), 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time

**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.

Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.

DEMO: https://youtu.be/sqYc1MIFijA

Workshop Description

This three-week online workshop focuses on painting nocturnes in gouache, with an emphasis on light, atmosphere, and mood in low-light scenes. Students will explore how to simplify complex night environments, control value relationships, and create luminous effects without overworking the medium.

Through guided discussion, visual analysis, and live demonstrations, the class will address key challenges of nocturne painting, including managing dark values, painting artificial and natural light sources, and maintaining clarity in reduced contrast conditions. The workshop is designed to help students better understand how nocturnes function visually and how gouache can be used effectively to convey night scenes with subtlety and intention.

This course is suitable for students with some painting experience who are interested in expanding their understanding of nocturnes and developing a confident, thoughtful approach to painting night scenes in gouache.

Workshop Outline

My Demo Method (every week)

Start with transparent washes

Paint the sky first

No white at the start

Build from dark to light

Week 1 — Moonlit Seascape

Lecture

Keep values simple and compressed

Low key colors

Warm vs cool tempurature

One main light source

Limit detail

Demo

Moonlight on water and reflections

Homework

Paint a simple nocturne with one light source

Week 2 — Desert Nocturne

Feedback

Review homework/feedback

Demo

Moonlight as the main light

Small warm light as an accent (campfire, window, etc.)

Homework

Paint a nocturne with a secondary light source accent

Week 3 — Snow Nocturne

Feedback

Review homework/feedback

Demo

Snow reflecting light and atmosphere

Workshop Materials

Paints

Holbein acryla gouache colors

Primary white

Leaf green

Primary or regular yellow

Deep yellow

Orange

Luminous red or Light red bright

Magenta

Crimson

Violet

Naples yellow

Yellow Ochre

Burnt Sienna

Burnt umber

Deep Violet

Ultramarine blue

Cerulean blue

Cobalt or light green

Blue green

Winsor Newton Brand Gouache

Permanent White

Linden Green

Brilliant Yellow

Permanent Yellow Deep

Marigold Yellow or cad orange

Cad Red Medium

Magenta

Primary Red

Alizarine Crimson

Brilliant Violet

Naples yellow

Yellow Ochre

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Spectrum Violet

Cobalt Blue

Olive Green

Brilliant Green

Cobalt Turquoise Light

Cypress Green

Holbein Brand

Aqua Blue

Katsura Blue

• A simplified (minimum) palette that would also work would be

Permanent White

Brilliant Yellow

Marigold Yellow or Cad Orange

Cad Red Medium

Alizarine Crimson

Yellow Ochre

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Spectrum Violet

Cobalt Blue

Olive Green

Brushes

I like the Jack Richeson set from JerrysArtarama.com

Half-inch Flat.

One-inch Flat.

Round acrylic brushes (#8).

Boards.

Crescent cold-press illustration board (Preferred).

140 lb cold press watercolor block will work as well.

Hobby Lobby also sells a MAster’s Series watercolor canvas panel as well that’s great for gouache and acrylic.

Additional Supplies

Cup or container for water.

Spray bottle.

Paper towels.

Mixing tray.

Paint saver palette from amazon that can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/Transon-Palette-Airtight-Watercolors-Paintbrush/dp/B07748B4MH/?th=1