Judd Mercer's Top 3 Tips for Painting in Gouache on Toned Paper
Colorado artist Judd Mercer shares his techniques for painting en plein air with gouache on toned paper. He recommends starting with a middle value to allow adjustments up and down, building layers for intensity by stacking colors like deep red, warm orange, yellow, and white to create a glowing effect, and choosing a palette based on actual observation rather than personal taste. Mercer emphasizes that gouache is the fastest way to paint opaquely without being locked in, and that toned paper forces thicker paint application. He hosts workshops online and in person and is represented by Abend Gallery in Denver. The article appears in the May/June 2026 issue of Artists Magazine.
Key facts
- Judd Mercer is a Colorado artist inspired by nature and mountainous landscapes.
- He prefers gouache on toned paper for plein air painting.
- Gouache allows fast opaque painting without commitment.
- Starting with a middle value on toned paper enables painting up and down in value.
- Toned paper forces thicker paint, avoiding watercolor-like transparency.
- Building layers of color (e.g., red, orange, yellow, white) creates glowing highlights.
- Palette choices should be based on observed light physics, not personal taste.
- Mercer is represented by Abend Gallery in Denver and hosts workshops.
Entities
Artists
- Judd Mercer
Institutions
- Abend Gallery
- Artists Magazine
Locations
- Colorado
- Denver