This seems to be a year for never-before books. Although there have been previous books on gouache painting, and with coverage of the poster style of work, this is the first I’ve seen that attempts to create classic travel posters.
Strictly speaking, this isn’t a gouache book, as Susie West uses acrylics, but the style is very much that of poster paint (well, it would be), being the use of an opaque medium.
The examples are attractive and fun and there are detailed step-by-step demonstrations if you want to re-create what Susie has done. It shouldn’t take much practice to be able to branch out on your own, though, and I suspect there is more satisfaction to be had from creating retro-style posters of your own favourite places. There’s enough information on landscapes, buildings, water and so on to give you all the groundwork you need.
Is this something to build a portfolio from? Well, it’s attractive and has quite a commercial air, so I suspect that you could have quite a nice business working from other people’s holiday photos. And, with potential Prime Ministers suggesting we all need a side-hustle, why not?
I’ll just leave that, and this, with you.
Click the picture to view on Amazon
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