Kate Wrigglesworth: ‘Painting a coastal scene in gouache’

This was a demonstration with a difference; verve, style and panache, together with a layering of gouache we were unfamiliar with. Kate Wrigglesworth, a self-confessed dancer and set designer who incorporated both skills into her painting at the demonstration, entranced us all.

Over a sketch on 300g stretched paper, with iridescent Winsor and Newton paints added, she began her layer quest. Keeping the brushwork loose, Kate stroked the surface with blues and yellows before adding defining black and red marks.

 Placing movement into the image with clouds and sea, as well as pennants, bunting and strings of lights, she played with the surface, bringing it back, taking it forwards. Lifting it with quirky placement of birds and animals.

 After the break, Kate was in blocking-in mode and the intensity of the areas was being built up, keeping the sky and sea free of ‘blockiness’.

More details with smaller brushes began to pull the work together. As Kate danced over the surface at will, finding areas to alter or embellish, she was having fun, and so were we.

Towards the end, there were bolder colours brought into play, as our dance with her drew to a close. There were still days of work to still be done, but it was a gift to be a part of.